Body Language Never Lies: The Importance of Body Language in Landing Your Dream Job
Let’s
face it, when you are being interviewed for a job you are essentially being
judged from the moment you walk in the door. How well you can communicate your
enthusiasm for the job you seek is just as important as explaining your
experience. What most people do not understand is that non-verbal communication
accounts for the majority of the information that you are relaying to the
listener. In fact, CareerCast.com
reports that many studies indicate body language accounts for 55% of any
response, while your verbal response accounts for just 7%. The remaining 38% is
communicated through the tone of your voice, inflection, pauses, and sighs you
give off when answering a question.
In
other words, even if your spoken answers convey intelligence and confidence,
your body language may say the exact opposite. Many people discount the
importance of job interview body language because they have been trained to
place more emphasis on spoken words instead. But, a skilled interviewer knows
to look for body language which contradicts the spoken words. Therefore, it is
just as important to practice and master your mannerisms as it is to practice
the spoken answers to commonly asked interview questions.
According
to the public speaking expert Matt Eventhoof, every person has physical habits
which include fidgets, grooming gestures or postural tendencies like slouching.
Normally, these habits have no impact on daily life. But during a job
interview, the body language you portray could be the difference between
landing the job, and not being considered at all. So it is important to know
your body language, and what it may say to the interviewer.
Negative Body Language to Avoid
■ Do not slouch. Lounging with arms and legs dangling will
suggest you are a little too relaxed about an interview you should be taking
seriously. Slouching or leaning over in the chair may also send the message
that you are disinterested in the job or lazy.
■ Crossing your arms can be
interpreted as defensive.
■ When you are nervous, your
body shows your nerves in different ways. Frowning at a difficult question or
at the wrong time can be a tell tale sign that you are having a difficult time
answering the question. Also, a nervous laugh or tick can show your nerves as
well. Be conscious of your facial expressions and mannerisms and try to control
them during the interview.
■ Try not to show how tense you
are. Tightly clutching a handbag or briefcase suggests a nervous candidate, not
a confident, cool-headed character.
■ An aggressive handshake or an
iron grip can imply arrogance, but a limp handshake might suggest weak
character. However, a firm handshake can relay confidence and a willingness to
engage in communication.
■ Avoid distracting body
movements. Beware of moving your feet up and down repeatedly in a nervous
manner. This is a sign of boredom, even if you do not mean it to be.
■ Resist the urge to touch your
face or play with your hair when you speak, as this suggests you are lying.
■ Avoid distracting facial
expressions which contradict the information you are stating.
Positive Body Language
■ Show them you know what you
are talking about – touch your fingertips together
to convey authority.
■ Your physical gestures should
be open and expressive. You want to try to involve the interviewer in what you
are saying. Keep palms up and open to suggest honesty, and avoid pointing or
banging fists on the table to emphasize a point.
■ Demonstrate curiosity and
enthusiasm while your interviewer is speaking. Making direct eye contact and
leaning slightly forward are two of the best cues.
■ Subtly imitate or mirror your
interviewer’s positive body language and mood
to quickly build a rapport. You should adjust to the people and atmosphere of
the room.
Maintain Good Eye Contact
It is
worth mentioning again that during the interview you should maintain good eye
contact with the interviewer. If there is more than one interviewer, you should
address each one as you answer each question. You may not know which
interviewer will have the deciding vote in hiring you. Therefore, it is
important that you never ignore anyone that may be in the room during the
questions.
Even if
one of the interviewers remains silent, it is a good practice to maintain eye
contact with them as well, and be sure to address everyone when providing your
answers. If you remain focused on only one person, it could be seen as being
rude or disrespectful. So establishing direct eye contact with all of the
members of the panel throughout the interview will engage everyone and appear
more genuine. You should frame your response to not only address the question
asked but to deliver the core message. Consequently, you will be able to project
a better understanding of your answer if you relay the message with good eye
contact to the entire panel.
Dress for Success
Understand
that your interview actually begins before you enter the room. The first
impression is a lasting one. This is why you must present yourself in the most
positive ways from the very start. Even your behavior in the reception area may
be observed. Dressing for success is also a way of presenting yourself in a
professional manner. Wearing appropriate business attire is an important way to
express that you are serious about landing the job you seek. Your clothes tell
the interviewer that you mean business. After all, you are there to get a job
and should want to be taken seriously. There are few better ways to initially
impress a potential employer than dressing for success.
Close with a Firm Handshake and a Thank You
Leaving
the interview on a high note is equally important as the first impression you
make. One last tip for ending the interview successfully is to close with a
firm handshake. You want to leave the interviewer with a lasting impression. Be
sure again to make good eye contact. Also, be certain to thank the interviewer
for their time and the opportunity to work with them in the future. This also
shows that you are contentious in your approach to finding a job.
Remember
that your body language says many things about you. It is just as important to
practice control over your body language as it is to answer common interview
questions. You should practice interviewing in a mirror, or even video your
responses to pick up on how others may see you. Doing so could be the
difference that sets you apart from the competition.
