By Janine Driver,
Reading and understanding body language is critical to your
success in a job interview. Nonverbal communication equips you to
understand what interviewers are thinking, helping you tweak your body
language to get them to like you ... and offer you the job!
1. The wet fish versus the bone crusherThe
handshake tells a story about each of us. Do you shake hands softly? Do
you come in from the top and deliver a "bone crusher"? Aggressive
people have firm handshakes; those with low self-esteem have limp, "wet
fish" handshakes.
A great handshake is a three-step process:
· Make sure your hands are clean and adequately manicured.
· Ensure hands are warm but free of perspiration.
· Execute your handshake professionally and politely, with a firm grip and a warm smile.
2. The eyes have itWhat's
considered an appropriate amount of eye contact may vary in different
countries. In North America, 60 percent eye contact is a safe figure --
one that can give hiring managers a feeling of comfort about you. More
eye contact than this and you may seem too intense; any less and you
risk appearing uninterested.
Eye-contact tips:
·
When you meet the interviewer, look her right in the eyes, then think
to yourself, "Wow, so great to finally meet you!" This will make you
smile, and she'll pick up on your positive mood. When we look at
someone we find interesting, our pupils dilate, a phenomenon the other
person instinctively picks up on.
· During a job
interview, keep your eye contact in the upside-down triangle area of
your interviewer's face: from the left eyebrow, to the nose, back up to
the right eyebrow.
Warning: Staring at a person's lips is considered sexual, while looking at their forehead is considered condescending.
3. Get it straightPosture
is an important thing to master on an interview: Get your posture
straight and your confidence will rise with it. Next time you notice
you are feeling a bit down, pay attention to how you are sitting or
standing. Chances are you'll be slouched over with your shoulders
drooping down and inward. This collapses the chest and inhibits
breathing, which can make you feel nervous or uncomfortable.
4. Get a "head" of the gameWhen
you want to feel confident and self-assured during an interview, keep
your head level, both horizontally and vertically. Also assume this
position when your goal is to be taken seriously. Conversely, when you
want to be friendly and in the listening, receptive mode, tilt your head
just a little to one side or the other.
5. Arms lend a hand, tooArms
offer clues as to how open and receptive we are, so keep your arms to
the side of your body. This shows you are not scared to take on
whatever comes your way.
Quieter people tend to move their arms
away from their body less often than outgoing people, who use their arms
with big movements. Keep gestures within the frame of your body, or
you'll risk being seen as out of control. Avoid the negative action of
crossing your arms during the interview.
Here are two common perceptions of hand gestures:
· Palms slightly up and outward: open and friendly
· Palm-down gestures: dominant and possibly aggressive
6. Get a leg up on the competitionOur
legs tend to move around a lot more than normal when we are nervous,
stressed or being deceptive. As a result, try to keep them as still as
possible during the interview. You should not cross your legs during a
job interview, as it creates a barrier between you and the interviewer
and may lead to fidgeting. When you cross your ankle at the knee, this
is known as the "figure four," and is generally perceived as the most
defensive leg cross.