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Interview Body
Language
How
long do you have to prove yourself in an interview? Half an hour?
Fifteen minutes? University of Toledo researchers found that job
seekers have under 30 seconds to make their mark on interviewers.
Since first impressions are sometimes made before job seekers even
open their mouths, nonverbal communication -- or, body language --
is an essential part of any interview.
Seeing Eye-to-Eye
Some people make too little eye contact. Others make too much. The
right amount, according to experts, lies somewhere in between.
Make eye contact and periodically break away. When you
break away, do not look down. It gives connotations of
submissiveness.
Be
Forward Thinking
The
interviewer offers you a chair. You sit down and lean back. You've
already made your first mistake.
Always
lean forward during a job interview.
Leaning
back shows an attitude of being too relaxed, leaning to the side can
connote that you don't like the interviewer.
Avoid Strong Expressions
Interviews are not personality parades. Nonverbal communication
experts warn against showing too much expression during interviews.
You want
to show some positive emotion, but it has to be understated and
conservative.
The one
exception is the handshake.
Negative Signs
The
successful candidate should also know what signs to avoid. These
include:
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Hand behind the head: This is a universal sign that people are
uncertain or annoyed, according to Givens.
-
Palm-down gestures: Avoid these signs as they are generally
reserved for authority figures. Flashing power signs in an
interview might hint at a power struggle.
-
Tilting heads: While Givens acknowledges that this is a "great
courtship signal," he advises against it for the job interview.
-
Laughter: Feel free to laugh along with the interviewer, but
don't erupt into laughter on your own.
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