This year's record college graduating class faces a tough white-collar job market, due to over-hiring in 2020 and 2021 in tech and professional services. With AI-generated resumes and cover letters making it hard to stand out on paper, strong interview skills are crucial. Students need to be able to interview well to impress potential employers. One way to sound professional is to avoid using filler words, especially “like.”

Overusing filler words like "um," "like," and "you know" can make speakers sound unprofessional and negatively impact hiring decisions. As noted in a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed, these verbal crutches can be a major turnoff for hiring managers. Some even resort to a "like-o-meter" to automatically disqualify candidates who say “like” above an acceptable threshold.

To address this challenge, many young professionals are using a new app called Credible, designed to help users become aware of their speech patterns. Credible helps users improve their communication skills and project a more professional image by providing real-time feedback on filler word usage.

Credible is the only product that provides real-time awareness in conversations and interviews. The app listens and alerts the user with immediate notifications on their phone or smartwatch whenever they say "like" or any other preselected filler word. Tools like Credible are essential for students aiming to improve verbal communication and project a more professional image.

The app was invented by University of Chicago senior Campbell Conard to help solve her own problem of overusing the word “like.” She wanted to help other students be judged for the quality of their thoughts and not the way they were presented. Credible is available for iOS only for now, has been downloaded over 40,000 times, has hundreds of daily active users, has been recommended by professional speech coaches, and has a 4.7-star review rating.