Non-verbal language can send volumes of information about you in a matter of seconds and without being aware of it you could be sending red flags before a single word is ever spoken. Research findings support that over two-thirds of the way you communicate is through non-verbal language combined with the tone of your voice and words you use. Yet body language is either ignored or taken for granted when talking with others.
There are several ways you can send messages that unknowingly create barriers during the interview process such as sighing on the phone when a recruiter calls to tell you the employer is taking more time than planned to make a decision.
Knowing the significance of how people can interpret your non-verbal postures will help you build trust and rapport in more effective way. For example during a recent panel interview one of the reasons why the employer selected one candidate over the other was eye contact. One of the top candidates kept looking at one person in responding to questions being asked as if no one else in the room mattered.
Granted, the lack of eye contact with the entire panel could have been from nervousness rather than skills to perform the job however the group interpreted as favoring one person. The one the candidate seems to have connected with the most was their peer and not the manager whom they would report to.
Eye contact is a powerful form of communication and your awareness is significant as in the panel interview but what about a one-to-one interview in which too much eye contact can send a message of intimidation or aggressiveness?
The same awkwardness holds true to when there is minimum eye communication such as the hiring manager who once told me about a candidate that came to their office for interview and had a difficult time looking at him when talking about important aspects of the job.
They would either look down or to the side when discussing their background making it difficult for the manager to feel comfortable about offering a job. Shakespeare made a great observation when he wrote that “eyes are the windows of the soul.” While you need to balance eye contact with natural moments of glancing away for thought, it’s important to remember timing and what messages you could be sending.
An area that is often neglected is the personal space issue. How close is too close? In a work environment the 3 foot rule is the safest bet and any closer and you can inadvertently influence the conversation by making it awkward.
Last but not least is head nodding in agreement, it’s a great way to say you agree but if you do it throughout the entire interview you run a risk of losing the power of shared interest and instead will agree to everything.
Nonverbal language can definitely affect your ability to negotiate your compensation as well through jittery movements like tapping your fingers or feet in anticipation. Think about the words you use when describing your strengths and how important they are in conveying your value to the employer. Then combine that with nervous tapping and it lessens the perception you want to send.
Interviewing can bring out anxiety in most people especially during the first few moments, pay attention to your facial expressions and remember that the interviewer could be as nervous as you. A smile helps convey friendliness and does wonders for helping ease into a good discussion.
Stay attuned to when the interviewer is closing down the meeting. Observing your future boss pick up and close their tablet could be a sign they are ready to wrap up the conversation.
Non-verbal language goes both ways and how did the interviewer’s body language effect you during an interview?
