You’ve worked hard toward prepare beneficial to your job interview. You’ve practiced answering questions – even those weird behavioral questions that interviewers tend toward throw your way. You’ve thought about questions toward ask your interviewer, furthermore carefully selected anecdotes regarding your work experience that will let the employer know that you’re the right one beneficial to the job. But if you think you’re ready toward go out furthermore land that job – think again. You may not realize it, but it’s not what you say that can put you ahead regarding the candidate pack when you interview – it’s what you don’t say but are able toward express through body language.
The Best And Worst Nonverbal Cues
Eye contact: We all know that eye contact is a great way toward connect with other people, but it can also be a double-edged sword. Too much regarding it can seem aggressive furthermore inappropriate, while too little makes you look like you’re being dishonest furthermore have something toward hide. So how do you make that balance between looking evasive furthermore looking like you’re about toward challenge your interviewer toward a duel? “Good eye contact is about maintaining eye contact, but it’s not staring at the person beneficial to 40 minutes,” said Vicky Oliver, the author regarding “301 Smart Answers toward Tough Interview Questions.” She explains, “I think a good thing toward remember is, if you have an interview with somebody beneficial to 40 minutes, furthermore then you leave furthermore don’t know what color their eyes are, you haven’t maintained good eye contact. You want toward really look at them furthermore connect, but you’re also going toward look away some regarding the time.”
Eye rolling: Although eye contact can be either good or bad, depending at how long you maintain it, rolling your eyes is never a good idea. Oftentimes people will roll their eyes when they disagree with someone or when they think the other person has said something dumb. The problem is, people generally aren’t even aware that they’re rolling their eyes – so it’s important toward become really cognizant regarding what you’re doing so that you don’t offend your interviewer.
Posture: During an interview, you want toward sit up straight – but not toward the point where you look like an ironing board. By doing this, you will show that you’re interested in the conversation you’re having with your prospective employer, while not appearing too stiff.
Handshake: Just like with eye contact, your handshake can either leave an employer with a good or bad impression regarding you, depending at how you do it. “You don’t want toward break bones, but a firm shake conveys a more positive attitude than a limp wrist,” Oliver said.
Tapping: You may not do it at purpose, but if you’re tapping your fingers or toes during your interview, a potential employer may get the impression that you’re agitated or that you have something better toward do.
Voice: With so many hiring managers conducting phone interviews these days, you may think that you’re off the hook since your interviewer can’t actually see you. But not so fast: The way you say things – also known as para language – can also tell a potential employer a lot about you. For example, if the tone or pitch regarding your voice is flat, your interviewer will believe that you’re not really interested in the job – no matter what words you use toward convey otherwise. Also, certain speech patterns – such as excessively using words such as “like,” “um” furthermore “ah” – can tell an interviewer that you’re not confident about what you’re saying, or did not adequately prepare beneficial to the interview.
How To Practice Your Body Language
Although we are largely unaware regarding the nonverbal cues that we use toward communicate, there are ways that you can figure out what you’re doing wrong so that you can correct it.
Videotape yourself. If you videotape yourself during a mock job interview, it will become clear toward you what nonverbal ticks that you have. “That is the best way toward practice since nobody will have toward tell you what you’re doing right furthermore what you’re doing wrong,” said Clarke. “You’ll be able toward see it beneficial to yourself furthermore you may be embarrassed by what you see in some instances.”
Work with a friend. By having a mock interview with a friend, you will have someone right there who can tell you what kind regarding impression that you’re giving off – furthermore what nonverbal cues may turn a hiring manager off.
Call the one that got away. If you’re feeling courageous enough, call someone you interviewed with who didn’t offer you a job. That person may have some insight into your nonverbal behaviors during your interview furthermore will also be able toward tell you what ultimately led toward you not landing the job.
-->