So much time and effort is spent by Job Seekers preparing for job interviews. There is almost an obsession, asking yourself questions such as, “What will I be asked?” or “What am I going to say?” If you are like most job seekers, the vast majority (if not all) of your time is spent preparing your verbal communication in the interview. What about all the other messages that are sent by both yourself and the Interviewer? How do you coach yourself on your non-verbal messages, and how do you interpret and react to those presented to you? That is the subject of our article this week.
So, what exactly are we referring to when highlighting non-verbal messages? There are many examples, but a short list includes eye contact, facial expressions, posture, and your handshake. If you don’t think you are sending (or receiving) non-verbal messages, then perhaps this research statistic will convince you. UCLA studied the subject and concluded that 93% of effective communication was non-verbal (why do you think poker players try so hard to mask any emotion when playing).
Understanding non-verbal communication is so crucial to the Job Seeker, because it allows them to send much more effective messaging to the Interviewer. Sometimes the Interviewer may not even consciously recognize they are absorbing and drawing a conclusion based on the non-verbal messages. Understanding the subject also allows a Job Seeker to better read the Interviewer and, therefore, potentially adjusting their message accordingly.
What You Can Do:
• Eye Contact – In our country, a key to speaking is to make eye contact with your intended target. Eye contact conveys confidence and passion in your message. Good eye contact is also a sign of active listening. Do not let your eyes wander as the Interviewer speaks, as it can reflect a lack of interest and/or a short attention span. A positive end result of this eye contact is that you will probably find yourself actually listening more intently. This should result in a better understanding of the questions presented (and better answers communicated) and the information provided. You should also find yourself better anticipating when you should speak and when you should listen, therefore helping to avoid a situation where you begin to “talk over” the Interviewer.
• Voice Inflection – “How” you say something is often as important as “what” you say. Determine what words to emphasize when answering a question. Raise your voice to reflect excitement or passion, or lower your voice to show seriousness.
• Posture – Don’t slouch in your chair. This can reflect a lack of interest in the conversation, or an overall too casual approach. Generally sit straight up for the conversation. Consider slightly leaning forward when you want to emphasize a point or express passion on a topic.
• Handshake – You have probably often heard how important first impressions are in shaping another persons opinion. A firm handshake will help to convey your confidence leading into the interview. If you tend to have sweaty palms, try to time the expected arrival of your greeter with having just dried your hands.
• Hands – Be aware of your hand gestures during the course of the conversation. Typically, keeping your hands together will help communicate confidence and a high comfort level. Moving your hands a little bit while speaking can be a good expressive way to place emphasis on a point, unless it becomes distracting to the listener. Do not “play” with anything (like a pen or paper clip) during the interview, as it will draw attention to your nervousness.
• Walk – If you are being provided with a tour of the office or facility, then make sure you walk with good posture, keeping your head up making eye contact with those you pass. Don’t forget, it will be important to keep pace with whomever you are walking with on the tour.
• Appearance – Everything from your clothes, your scent (strong cologne/perfume is a “no-no”), to your hygiene will be evaluated. It is important to make sure that none of these items become an issue.
Properly interpreting non-verbal messages can provide a savvy Job Seeker with a real competitive advantage. Any of the items above really can pertain also to the other person in the conversation. It is certainly a good sign if you find your Interviewer sitting upright (perhaps slightly forward), making eye contact, and having excitement in their voice. If the Interviewer appears distracted (perhaps a glance at their watch, or computer screen), sits back in their chair, stops taking notes, etc, you may need to change something in your approach. If you believe there is some conflict in the message being received verbally compared to the non-verbal cues, it is generally best practice to draw your conclusion from the non-verbal cues.
As you probably concluded, non-verbal cues can be a very impactful way to communicate to another person, whether it is by design or purely accidental. Being aware and managing your non-verbal messages will allow you to better frame your portion of the conversation to your advantage. In reverse, understanding the non-verbal messages being presented to you can provide so much useable information. It allows you to evaluate the conversation and plot strategy regarding your next course of action. Remember it is not just what you say, but also how you say it!
As always, best of luck in your job search.
The following has been prepared for the general information of WNYJobs readers. It is not meant to provide advice with respect to any specific legal or policy matter and should not be acted upon without verification by the reader.
Joe Stein
WNY Human Resources Professional
Feel free to contact Joe Stein regarding questions or comments at:
Joe Stein
