Nonverbal communication can be a very important part of a job interview. The right gestures and facial expressions inspire trust and can make a good impression on the interviewer. Good posture and a sincere smile can reinforce a favorable verbal impression.
On the other hand, wrong or inappropriate body language can indicate unfavorable traits such as lack of confidence, nervousness, or even dishonesty. The wrong body language, even if the potential interviewee is unaware of it, may be sending the wrong message and lead to a rejected application.
Here are some tips on what to do or not to do to make a good nonverbal impression.
Nonverbal Cues That Form a Positive Job Interview Impression
These nonverbal cues indicate a prospective employee who is alert and interested, confident, involved and eager to be a part of the team.
- good posture
- looking the interviewer in the eye
- a sincere smile
- angling the body slightly forward, toward interviewer
Body Cues That Make a Bad Job Interview Impression
The cues listed below hint that the interviewee lacks confidence and is ill at ease.
- weak handshake
- poor posture
- avoiding eye contact
- nervous gestures such as fidgeting, tapping foot, pulling hair
Other Job Interview Body Language Tips to Remember
When interviewing for a job, don't offer a hand in the palm-down position. This can be perceived as a domineering move that hints of overconfidence. Maintain good eye contact. Don't angle the head toward the floor or away from the interviewer. Running hands through the hair, pulling on an earlobe or other gestures may be perceived as symptoms of uneasiness or anxiety and form an unfavorable impression.
Eye contact is one of the most important forms of nonverbal communication. Prolonged eye contact, such as an intense stare, can make the other person uneasy, and should be avoided. In the opposite extreme, lack of eye contact can create a sense of distrust. The person being interviewed should make just the right amount of eye contact by neither staring nor avoiding the gaze of the interviewer. Hold eye contact for a few seconds, then release. When not maintaining eye contact, gaze a little off to the side or slightly downward. Gazing totally downward is perceived as a gesture of submission and should be avoided.
In addition, there are some other nonverbal cues that often make people uneasy and should be avoided. Frowning or squinting can create a poor impression. Excessive gestures when speaking can also lead to a sense of distrust of the words being spoken, as if extra convincing is needed.
Because nonverbal communication contributes greatly to the overall impression a person makes, the importance of body language should never be underestimated.
Sources:
Hagen, Shelly. The Everything Body Language Book . Avon, Mass: Adams Media, 2008. ISBN 10 1598694197
Hartley, Gregory and Kovinch, Maryann. I Can Read you Like a Book. Franklin Lakes, NJ: Career Press, 2007.
ISBN 13978156449411
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