Postures and body movements are unconscious forms of expressions and
therefore they have a language of their own. We are unware 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 a comprehensive list of probable body gestures,
which you can watch out for during a course of 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 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 head or rubbing or touching the back of 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 conservation and leave the room.
Last but not the 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 jewellery, watch, clothes, bag, twirl your hair or
cross your arms, and try to maintain an eye contact with the
interviewer. If staring straight into 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 an eye contact, but might be less
distracting.
From India, Vadodara
5therefore they have a language of their own. We are unware 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 a comprehensive list of probable body gestures,
which you can watch out for during a course of 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 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 head or rubbing or touching the back of 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 conservation and leave the room.
Last but not the 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 jewellery, watch, clothes, bag, twirl your hair or
cross your arms, and try to maintain an eye contact with the
interviewer. If staring straight into 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 an eye contact, but might be less
distracting.
From India, Vadodara
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
From India, Delhi
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
From India, Bangalore
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 interview I find that my thinking consciously about body language can actually change the way I feel. Ioften start with hands loosel clasped or folded in my lap, and make sure I give good eye contact to the person speaking to me, but also including other interviewers in my response. Deliberately using open handed gestures at about waist level seems to help with confidence without appearing over confident.
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 les 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 sucess in just about any context and I think making this a focus is a useful strategy.
From Australia, Ballarat
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 les 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 sucess in just about any context and I think making this a focus is a useful strategy.
From Australia, Ballarat
While trying to comprehend the signals being transmitted through Body Language, it is very, 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. They should be seen in clusters (like sentences, in verbal communication). This is one reason why, when practised 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 his eye...he could be looking down because your shoelace has become untied and the worried look on his face could be that he is worried you might trip. How would it be if we reached a conclusion that he is feeling remorseful of his actions and is 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
A person not making eye contact with you need not necessarily have something to hide from you--something interesting could have caught his eye...he could be looking down because your shoelace has become untied and the worried look on his face could be that he is worried you might trip. How would it be if we reached a conclusion that he is feeling remorseful of his actions and is 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
hi everyone,
since it was a article i easily copied and pasted it from one of the yahoo grooup mail.. but may be some think which is not discuss is understanding the body language of the interviewer itself... how we can able to get what he feels.. so this can help in many way also.. since i donot have any idea i want some input on this from people like numerouno and other people who are in to recruitment side.. i think that will be good...
have a nice time
From India, Vadodara
since it was a article i easily copied and pasted it from one of the yahoo grooup mail.. but may be some think which is not discuss is understanding the body language of the interviewer itself... how we can able to get what he feels.. so this can help in many way also.. since i donot have any idea i want some input on this from people like numerouno and other people who are in to recruitment side.. i think that will be good...
have a nice time
From India, Vadodara
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Body Language during Job Interviews.doc
BODY LANGUAGE.ppt