Have you ever suffered through a presentation with a speaker who communicated with low volume and no energy? If so, you’re aware of how painful it is to stay awake and pay attention to such a presenter. Hiring managers deal with the same thing during interviews. Although interviews are a bit more interactive, a dull attitude can be off-putting and, in the end, lead to not being hired. Even if you’re not a public speaker, following these interview communication tips will help you land the job.

Tone encompasses both your voice and body language. The moment you get to your interview location, you should shine with energy and enthusiasm. Show everyone your excitement. Even if the job isn’t your first choice, consider it an opportunity to better yourself and your resume, so bring a positive attitude. Every step you take is a step toward your ultimate goal. Our best tip: Read the building. When you first walk in, notice how employees interact and the hiring manager’s energy. Try to replicate the culture to show that you’re a good fit for the organization.

Things to avoid:

When communicating with the interviewer(s), your speech needs to sound professional. Take yourself back to your speech class in college and recall everything your professor graded you on, such as volume, language, filler words, and vocabulary. You want a strong combination of these attributes when talking.

You want to be heard, not loud. Project your voice appropriately so the interviewer catches everything you say. Be aware of your vocabulary and watch your language. You don’t want to use expletives in a professional setting. Being respectful is paramount, so use “Yes, Sir/Ma’am,” or “Mr./Mrs./Ms. Last Name.”

A key for a strong interview is to create a conversation. You don’t want to sound like a robot who’s only vomiting answers in response to questions. Making a connection with the interviewer will give you brownie points in the final decision phase. The best thing you can do before an interview is practice.

The way people use their eyes can tell a lot about them. Staring into people’s eyes can seem romantic, while avoiding eye contact can make you appear unconfident. Improper eye contact can make an interaction awkward.

In a business setting, your eye contact is just as important as body language and tone of voice. Create a triangle on a person’s face and look at the middle of the triangle. This triangle’s form usually depends on the type of person you are speaking to. In a professional setting, you want to have the bottom line of the triangle at the base of their eyes and the top of the triangle in the middle of their forehead. Keep this in mind when communicating with your interviewer.

A good way to keep the conversation going and connect with the interviewer is to ask questions, so don’t be afraid to do so during the interview. Asking for clarity or examples can help you stall for time to form better answers. Listen intently throughout the interview to catch key details that are important to the hiring manager. (Sometimes, there’s more in the subtext of a question than what the interviewer is asking on a surface level.)

When answering questions, find a way to relate your answers back to yourself and your experiences. You’re looking to separate yourself from the competition while demonstrating how perfect you are for the job. One way to show you are a good fit is by showing how interested you are in the company. Do your research and ask engaging questions at the end of the interview.

For example:

These questions are designed to help you demonstrate how you can create value for the business. Learn their needs and respond with how you can deliver.

Being funny during an interview can be hit or miss. You want to make sure your humor flows with the interview appropriately. You definitely shouldn’t interrupt the interview to tell a joke. You want to show that you can be a positive, humorous person in the workplace. Nobody likes a boring, unmotivated co-worker.

Humor is entirely subjective to an individual. What you think is funny may not be funny to a hiring manager. It’s best to let the interviewer start with the jokes to see what they find funny and roll with it. Nothing is worse than creating an awkward situation because something you thought was funny turned out to be offensive. Humor should come from stories you tell that are both appropriate and relevant.

Is there a strategy that’s worked for you that’s not mentioned here? Let us know your tips.