5 regional accents applicants hide in job interviews

Depending on where someone lives, developing a regional accent is unavoidable. Yet despite the fact that an accent has nothing to do with a person's workplace aptitude, many fear it could cost them a job opportunity if they don't hide it in interviews. 

People with strong U.S. regional accents were found to face a wage penalty of 20% compared to those who speak with a "standard accent," according to a recent survey of 3,000 job applicants conducted by a writing assistance organization, Writing Tips Institute. As a result, over one-third said that they "soften" their regional accents in their job interviews out of fear of negative stereotypes.

"The negative perception of accents in professional settings is frequently rooted in deep-seated societal bias, unconscious prejudice, and stereotyping tied to specific regions or communities," says Shaun Connell, founder and CEO of Writing Tips Institute. "These biases may distort people's view of a job applicant. For example, a person's speech characteristics may erroneously influence others' judgments about their educational background, social status, or skills, overlooking their actual capabilities and qualifications."

Read more: 4 ways upskilling can diversify your workforce

The survey found that 51% of applicants from western New England — which includes cities such as Boston and Providence, Rhode Island — are the most likely to alter their speech patterns. The accent in this region is non-rhotic, according to the Writing Tips Institute, which means the "r" sound is often dropped at the end of words or before consonants, giving words like "car" and "park" a distinct sound. In second place, 50% of applicants with a south midland accent, which includes residents from Oklahoma and Arkansas, admitted to hiding their accents, as well as 45% of applicants with New Jersey accents.

Those disparities are even greater for those with accents outside of the U.S. A 2022 research initiative from the University of Queensland in Brisbane found that not only were interviewers less likely to hire candidates with an accent they can't place, but the disparity became worse when it was a foreign accent relative to the native language from another country, such as Spanish-accented English. As employers continue to advocate for diversity in the workplace, it's imperative that they consider accents into their inclusivity efforts. 

"Employers should cultivate a culture that appreciates diversity, including linguistic diversity, through education and discouragement of discriminatory attitudes based on accents," Connell says. "Unconscious bias training, especially for those involved in hiring, can mitigate biases including accent bias. Emphasizing skills, qualifications, and experience over linguistic traits in job descriptions, interviews, and company policies can further promote equality." 

See what other regional accents made the Writing Tips Institute's list and where applicants may be struggling to bring their full selves to job interviews:

The Western New England accent

Common in east coast areas like Boston and Providence, Rhode Island. The "r" sound is typically dropped.

The South Midland accent

Common in areas including Oklahoma and Arkansas. Characterized by distinctive vowel sounds, such as the "ah" sound in words like "barn" or "car," and the "oo" sound in words like "moon" or "food."

The New Jersey accent

Typically only found in New Jersey. Strong and distinct pronunciation of the "r" sound, which is often pronounced even at the end of words where it is usually silent, such as "car."

The Southern accent

Common in southern states like Georgia, Texas and South Carolina. Elongated vowels, as well as a slower and more relaxed pace of speech makes this distinctive. 

The Baltimore accent

Commonly found in Baltimore and certain regions of Pennsylvania. Pronunciation of the "o" sound is known as the "Baltimore o." People from this region also use words like "yo" and "hon" as terms of endearment.
MORE FROM EMPLOYEE BENEFIT NEWS