Postures and body movements are unconscious forms of expressions and therefore, they have a language of their own. We are unaware of our gestures and body movements most of the time, but other people can notice our gestures and movements if they pay attention to and know what they mean.
An important thing to be noted here is that body language applies not only to the interviewer but also to the interviewee. Also, note that these gestures may happen throughout the conversation or a discussion and they change as the conversation progresses.
The objective of paying attention to nonverbal communication is to help you change the direction of the conversation. If the person is showing negative gestures, then you need to change the topic by asking a new question or talking about something else. In this issue of the Career Headlines, we provide you with a comprehensive list of probable body gestures, which you can watch out for during a job interview.
1. Crossed arms - means that the person is in a defensive and reserved mood.
2. Crossed arms and legs - means that the person feels very reserved and suspicious.
3. Open arms and hands - means that the person is open and receptive.
4. Standing before you with hands inside the pockets - means he is not sure or feels suspicious.
5. Standing before you with hands on hips - means he is receptive and ready to help you out.
6. Sitting in a chair shaking one of the legs - means he feels nervous and uncomfortable.
7. If the eyes are downcast and face turned away - means he is not interested in what you are saying.
8. With the palm of the hand holding or supporting chin - means he is in an evaluating position and being critical.
9. Leaning back in chair with both hands clasped behind the head - means he is in an analytical mood, but it is also a gesture of superiority.
10. Rubbing or touching nose when asking a question - means he is not telling the complete truth.
11. Rubbing or touching nose when answering a question - means he is not telling the complete truth.
12. Rubbing the back of the head or rubbing or touching the back of the neck - means the conversation is not really interesting.
13. If he moves his body and sits with his feet and body pointing towards a door - means he wants to end the conversation and leave the room.
Last but not least, do not underestimate the importance of your posture and subtle movements. Even if you are nervous, try not to show it. Don't play with your jewelry, watch, clothes, bag, twirl your hair, or cross your arms, and try to maintain eye contact with the interviewer. If staring straight into the recruiter's eye makes you feel uncomfortable or uneasy, try to look at the portion between the eyes instead - it looks like you're still making eye contact but might be less distracting.
From India, Vadodara
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5An important thing to be noted here is that body language applies not only to the interviewer but also to the interviewee. Also, note that these gestures may happen throughout the conversation or a discussion and they change as the conversation progresses.
The objective of paying attention to nonverbal communication is to help you change the direction of the conversation. If the person is showing negative gestures, then you need to change the topic by asking a new question or talking about something else. In this issue of the Career Headlines, we provide you with a comprehensive list of probable body gestures, which you can watch out for during a job interview.
1. Crossed arms - means that the person is in a defensive and reserved mood.
2. Crossed arms and legs - means that the person feels very reserved and suspicious.
3. Open arms and hands - means that the person is open and receptive.
4. Standing before you with hands inside the pockets - means he is not sure or feels suspicious.
5. Standing before you with hands on hips - means he is receptive and ready to help you out.
6. Sitting in a chair shaking one of the legs - means he feels nervous and uncomfortable.
7. If the eyes are downcast and face turned away - means he is not interested in what you are saying.
8. With the palm of the hand holding or supporting chin - means he is in an evaluating position and being critical.
9. Leaning back in chair with both hands clasped behind the head - means he is in an analytical mood, but it is also a gesture of superiority.
10. Rubbing or touching nose when asking a question - means he is not telling the complete truth.
11. Rubbing or touching nose when answering a question - means he is not telling the complete truth.
12. Rubbing the back of the head or rubbing or touching the back of the neck - means the conversation is not really interesting.
13. If he moves his body and sits with his feet and body pointing towards a door - means he wants to end the conversation and leave the room.
Last but not least, do not underestimate the importance of your posture and subtle movements. Even if you are nervous, try not to show it. Don't play with your jewelry, watch, clothes, bag, twirl your hair, or cross your arms, and try to maintain eye contact with the interviewer. If staring straight into the recruiter's eye makes you feel uncomfortable or uneasy, try to look at the portion between the eyes instead - it looks like you're still making eye contact but might be less distracting.
From India, Vadodara
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Yes The body language plays a key factor during interview or any discussion. Through body language of the person one can notice what is going on in his mind. dsv
From India, Delhi
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From India, Delhi
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yes..body language is very important not only in the interview but on any conversation..... As how body language is important, so as is eye contact....
From India, Bangalore
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From India, Bangalore
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Very good post. I find body language one of the hardest things to control unless you are conscious of the need to do this. Although I have always been nervous at interviews, I find that thinking consciously about body language can actually change the way I feel. I often start with hands loosely clasped or folded in my lap and make sure I give good eye contact to the person speaking to me, including other interviewers in my response. Deliberately using open-handed gestures at about waist level seems to help with confidence without appearing overconfident.
I mostly find that within 5-10 minutes of commencing the interview, I begin to feel more relaxed inside. I have also had a great deal of experience as an interviewer and try to remember that often the interviewer might be as nervous as the applicant. I am no longer a nervous interviewer myself but have been on panels with many less experienced people who find that they are very uptight in case they say or do the wrong thing. If, as an applicant, I detect this kind of anxiety, I try to reduce the nerves with a conversational approach and avoid asking clarifying questions that may be challenging for the interviewer.
Relationships are the key to success in just about any context, and I think making this a focus is a useful strategy.
From Australia, Ballarat
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I mostly find that within 5-10 minutes of commencing the interview, I begin to feel more relaxed inside. I have also had a great deal of experience as an interviewer and try to remember that often the interviewer might be as nervous as the applicant. I am no longer a nervous interviewer myself but have been on panels with many less experienced people who find that they are very uptight in case they say or do the wrong thing. If, as an applicant, I detect this kind of anxiety, I try to reduce the nerves with a conversational approach and avoid asking clarifying questions that may be challenging for the interviewer.
Relationships are the key to success in just about any context, and I think making this a focus is a useful strategy.
From Australia, Ballarat
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While trying to comprehend the signals being transmitted through body language, it is very important to realize that gestures, postures, and facial expressions are to non-verbal communication what 'words' are to verbal communication. They should NOT be seen in isolation but in clusters, like sentences in verbal communication. This is one reason why, when practiced by beginners, it fails miserably at the start.
A person not making eye contact with you need not necessarily have something to hide from you. Something interesting could have caught their eye, or they could be looking down because your shoelace has become untied. The worried look on their face could be that they are worried you might trip. How would it be if we reached a conclusion that they are feeling remorseful of their actions and worried about the consequences?
Please use these tips on body language to guide you and draw conclusions taking into account all other signals and communication that is being transmitted.
Sanath
From India, Mumbai
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A person not making eye contact with you need not necessarily have something to hide from you. Something interesting could have caught their eye, or they could be looking down because your shoelace has become untied. The worried look on their face could be that they are worried you might trip. How would it be if we reached a conclusion that they are feeling remorseful of their actions and worried about the consequences?
Please use these tips on body language to guide you and draw conclusions taking into account all other signals and communication that is being transmitted.
Sanath
From India, Mumbai
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Hi everyone,
Since it was an article, I easily copied and pasted it from one of the Yahoo group mails. However, perhaps something that was not discussed is understanding the body language of the interviewer itself. How can we be able to understand what he feels? This could be helpful in many ways. As I don't have any idea about this, I would like some input from people like numerouno and others who are in the recruitment field. I think that would be good.
Have a nice time.
From India, Vadodara
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Since it was an article, I easily copied and pasted it from one of the Yahoo group mails. However, perhaps something that was not discussed is understanding the body language of the interviewer itself. How can we be able to understand what he feels? This could be helpful in many ways. As I don't have any idea about this, I would like some input from people like numerouno and others who are in the recruitment field. I think that would be good.
Have a nice time.
From India, Vadodara
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Body Language During Job Interviews.pdf
Body Language in Interviews.doc
BODY LANGUAGE.ppt