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Body Language during Interview
Everybody uses body language during the interview, but very
few are prepared to be a winner in the body language game. Body
language is merely the smaller, less prominent nonverbal cues that
we give others while communicating. Following are some typical
interpretations of body language cues:
- Openness and
Warmth: open-lipped
smiling, open hands with palms visible, unbuttoning coat upon
being seated.
- Confidence:
leaning forward in chair, chin up, putting tips of fingers of one
hand against the tips of fingers of other hand in
"praying" position, hands joined behind back when standing.
- Nervousness: smoking, whistling,
pinching skin, fidgeting, jiggling pocket contents, running tongue
along front of teeth, clearing throat, running fingers through
hair, wringing hands, biting on pens or other objects, twiddling
thumbs, biting fingernails (action itself or evidence of), tongue
clicking.
- Untrustworthy/Defensive: frowning,
squinting eyes, tight-lipped grin, arms crossed in front of chest,
pulling away, chin down, touching nose or face, darting eyes,
looking down when speaking, clenched hands, gestures with fist,
pointing with fingers, chopping one hand into the open palm of the
other, rubbing back of neck, clasping hands behind head while
leaning back in the chair.
As you can see, there are far
more negatives than positives - possibly more than we are
consciously aware of. This list is given not so that you can artificially
adopt the positive body language techniques, but more to
help you recognize and avoid the negatives. If you have a
habit of doing any of the above negatives, remove that action from your pattern
of behavior before it sends the wrong signal. Concentrate on removing
it now so you will not have to think about it during the
interview. And keep in mind the opposite side of the desk. As you
talk with an interviewer, be aware of (although not preoccupied with) their body
language and nonverbal cues. Do not try to read in more
than what is actually being communicated, but try to develop a sense
of the interviewer's reception of you. The most obvious example is
the smile connection - when your smile brings about
a smile from the interviewer. Do your best to stay connected with
your interviewer -both verbally and nonverbally.
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