If you're considering hiring voice over talent for an upcoming project, you'll need to schedule an interview, review demo tapes, and request a sample script reading from potential applicants. Voice over scripts make it easier to find just the right match for your business, and can make the interview process much more valuable.  Think of the script as a sample of work your applicants can produce for you.

It's up to you how much time you give them to rehearse each piece, but most experienced individuals can complete their testing within a few hours.  Since they'll be reading directly from paper, they will just need time to practice their lines, learn about the background or nature of the script, and proceed accordingly.  There are very few cases where a voice over script will need to be memorized word for word; since the recording will take place in a studio, your talent will have the script right in front of them.

Many companies struggle with determining what type of tone and style they are looking for.  The best way to start is to narrow down who you are marketing to .  Learning the demographics of the target market will help you narrow down the different types of voices that would be most appropriate for your advertising or other promotions.  This approach can also help eliminate most of the voice over talent applicants during the initial stages, making your hiring process much easier.

No matter what type of business or industry you're in, you'll need to compile a collection of different types of scripts to gauge the strengths and weaknesses of each applicant. The best way to do this is narrow down your field to a few key themes.  Is your business producing a comedic advertisement?  A serious monologue?  A public service announcement that requires a more journalistic or reporting tone?  Once you've established the general theme and tone of your campaign, the next step is tracking down a similar script that encourages the talent to adopt, or in some cases create, the unique voice.

Finding voice over scripts is easy with a simple search online.  Many script databases are available free of charge, and give you a chance to search by keyword, theme, or subject.  Look for scripts that are similar in scope to your field, or pick something that challenges the applicant to try different styles and themes.  Many voice over script collections are royalty-free, affordable, and from trusted sites and projects.  These can also be a great resource for developing and adapting your own scripts, and give you some more ideas for making different types of scripts with your key goals in mind.

Last of all, you are going to want to obtain a demo script of each applicant.  These demos should allow yourself to compare and contrast the performances of the applicants side by side.  To this end, you shouldn't just have your potential voice actors read one script; have them real several, with varying tone and subject matter, so that you can judge the versatility of your applicants, and the styles to which they are each uniquely suited.  If you do not want to record these demos in your studio, you can request that applicants submit them with their initial applications.

The sheer number of voice actors vying for jobs today can be a little overwhelming when you're looking for the one perfect candidate to represent your project.  Take your search online can be a great way to streamline the process of finding the right voice actor for the job.

When piecing together a multimedia project, you shouldn't underestimate the resources that are freely available on the Internet.  Online databases can, for example, allow you to find a perfect sample script at no cost to you, or can serve as valuable reference material if you are writing your own script.  Many voice professional nowadays maintain personal websites containing their portfolios and samples of the voice work they have done in the past.  Checking out online samples of potential hires' work is a great way to save time during the hiring process.  

The Internet is easily the most useful and extensive resource at your disposal during the hiring process, but the time you spend searching for voice talent online may amount to nothing if you don't have a good idea of what you're looking for and how to find it.  Here are five simple pointers that will go a long way towards making your time spent on the Internet more effective and valuable.

1. Ask for web-based samples after initial contact.  Professionals will be able to send over an .mpeg sample or direct you to samples they have available online; this can make it much easier to distinguish the professionals from the amateurs, and save you time in sending and receiving demo tapes, or setting up an audition.  You can use this step as the first part of your screening process.

2. Ask potential hires for a resume. Any serious voice actor or actress should be able to provide a formal resume, complete with his or her employment history and references.   Speaking of references, they're there for a reason; you should make sure to contact two or more of the past employers listed in order to get a balanced assessment of the performance you can expect from a potential hire.

3. Ask the candidate for a preferred rate.  You should make sure you understand how much the actor would like to be paid, and when.  Actors may want to be compensated either per hour or per project, and though some do not mind being compensated on delivery, others may want a portion up front.

4. Interview candidates by telephone. Barring the possibility of meeting your prospect in person, speaking to him or her on the telephone is the best way to familiarize yourself with a potential voice actor or actress. In addition to discussing the candidates' employment history and gauging their experience and professionalism, you can have him them demonstrate their abilities with a brief reading.

5. Ask if your voice talent is equipped to provide services digitally.  It is increasingly common for voice over artists to set up studios in their own homes.  If your actor or actress is able to record his or her performance from home and send it to you over the Internet, this means that you will save on the costs associated with travel and the shipping of tapes.