communication body language

body language communication

Gone are the days when the job seeker has to write the handwritten application
letter to earn that job interview. In this age of computers and cyber
technology, most employers prefer applicants who apply online, and more job
seekers are looking to the net for their job opportunities. But one thing
remains the same - the body language of the applicant during job interviews and
how they make the first impression as they step inside that interview room.

Your Type of Person
Based on your body language, an interviewer may know whether you are confident
or not, if you are the shy type or the friendly type, if you are a loner or a
team player, or even if you are telling the truth or not. They can tell if you
are capable of handling the job, if you are devoted, or if you’re someone who
can get along with other employees. Based on their questions, the interviewer
will not only pay attention to what you say, but also on how you say it. The
interviewer generally will find responses from you that match their
qualifications. How you can
decode the body language of your interviewer in
relation to your own body language will determine the thin line if you get that
job or not.

Be Punctual
This is the most important aspect of the job interview – arriving on time. The
job interview is deemed as a very important appointment, and being late is a
cardinal crime with gravity that may cause you to lose that job opportunity.
Your attitude regarding time will send the wrong messages to the employer, and
will tell a lot about your lack of professionalism. Being stuck in traffic is a
very lame and downright unforgivable excuse. It is better to be early by one
hour than to be a minute late.

 

The First Encounter
When the interviewer comes to the room to meet you, do not offer your hand for a
handshake unless the interviewer offers his hand. Shake hands firmly, but do not
squeeze. Maintain eye contact.

Proper Body Posture
Body posture is important during job interviews and you can adopt the following
stance. At the beginning of the interview, sit up straight in your chair, with
your back leaning against the back of the chair. Do not slouch or move sideways
in your chair because it might be perceived by the interviewer as a lack of
interest or boredom. On the other hand, sitting on the edge of your chair can
impart a message that you are a little nervous and that you feel uneasy with the
situation.
When the interviewer says something, it is advisable to lean forward a little.
This shows interest and attention in what the interviewer is saying. You can
tilt your head a little to show that you are listening closely.

Proper Gestures
Do not cross your arms because this might be perceived as a defensive move. Just
place your hands loosely on your lap or just put them on the armrest of your
chair. By doing this, you will also be able to make hand movements to support
what you are saying.

While speaking, you may nod your head occasionally to expound on a subject or to
give more meaning to what you are saying. Hand movements can also help to spice
up the conversation. The interviewer would think that you are comfortable with
the interview process if you make hand gestures.
Too much hand movements at the beginning of the interview may not be a good
idea. The proper way is to add them gradually throughout the interview.
Be aware of your interviewer’s hand movements as well. If they use their hands a
lot to make a point or to clarify something, you can do the same thing as well
(Remember mirroring?). When they don't make many movements, do the same thing as
them. It is important to adjust your gestures to that of the interviewer to
establish rapport.

Be alert to unintentional gestures that you may make sometimes due to tension.
Some of the acts that may irritate the interviewer could include:
Tapping your fingers across the desk.
Shuffling your feet.

Biting your nails.
Toying with a pen.

Body Language of Your Interviewers
Observing the body language of your interviewers is as important as being aware
of your own body movements. The body gestures of your interviewers can give you
an indication of how well you are coming across to them. This can serve as a
signal to change your approach at an early stage before they give you the thumbs
down.

For example, when you did something that displeases the interviewers, they will
show their annoyance through body language. When they sigh, shake their heads,
look down, or fold their arms and lean back, you can take this as a sign of
discontentment or irritability. The interviewers might not consciously notice
that they’re exhibiting their body movements at first, so you still have a
chance to shift your strategy.

Body Language Reading

Body Language Reading



We use body language everyday in our lives to get our message across, to achieve
positive feedback in our lives, and to get whatever we want. We use this
language all the time, but we may not be aware of it. Moreover, this language
doesn't only involve the mouth but the whole body as well.



Could you even imagine the awesome power of applying it? With it, you'll be able
to interpret other people's inner emotions even if they're not directly
expressing it. You'll also be able to modify your behavior to fit the situation.
You'll get them to like and trust you. What words cannot do, body language can.
In this chapter, we shall explore the various body gestures or movements
conveyed by people in different scenarios. Let’s begin.

Here are some of the movements exhibited by people who are interested in what
you are saying:

They maintain eye contact more than 60% of the time. The more wide-opened the
eyes are, the more interested the person is. In fact, a person maintains eye
contact more when listening than when talking.

Their heads are inclined forward.

They smile frequently. But take note, not all smiles convey the same feeling. An
oblong smile is not genuine. It is used to show courtesy, but not necessarily
happiness or friendliness. The lips are withheld completely back from the upper
and lower teeth, forming the oblong shape. This is usually the smile that many
people exhibit when they feign to enjoy a lame joke.

There are certain hints to indicate if people are more receptive in accepting
your ideas. Some of these are:
Their hands are flat on the table.
Their palms are open.
If they're stroking their chin, they're thinking. They may agree with you after
careful evaluation.
Their heads are inclined forward.
They are nodding their heads.

Their legs are spaced out from each other.
They smile frequently.
They unbutton their jackets. This indicates friendliness and willingness to
collaborate with you.
Their hands are open. This also indicates genuineness.

They place their hands in their chest. This signifies openness and conveys
sincerity, honesty, or dedication. However, a woman putting her hands in her
breast is a defensive position and may indicate that she is surprised or
astonished.

Indications That They Are Defensive/Hiding Something
The mouth might keep a secret, but certain gestures could indicate that people
are hiding something they don’t want others to find out, such as:
They walk with their hands in their pockets.
They cross their arms.
They hide their hands any way they can.

Signals Made When They Are Doubting/Suspecting You
It’s sometimes difficult to assume whether you are being regarded as a
trustworthy person, or you are being thought of as someone who is full of
nonsense. Here are some clues that may indicate suspicion:
They glimpse sideways from the corner of one eye.
They are rubbing or touching their eyes or ears.
Their hands are tucked in their pockets.
Their arms are crossed over the chest.
Their glasses are dropped to the lower bridge of the nose, with eyes peering
over them. This movement may indicate that you are being examined closely (to
the point that you get conscious).
There’s one act you usually do when you are the one doubting yourself - rubbing
or touching your nose. This subconsciously occurs when you are uncertain of how
to answer a critical question or when you are concerned of other people’s
reaction to your answer.

How To Know When They Are Lying
People lie for a variety of reasons. It may be to cover up a fault or
embarrassment, to avoid upsetting other people, to encourage when no hope can be
perceived, or to be spared from petty hassles. It may also be due to more
serious psychological problems such as delusional imaging or extreme vanity.
Here are some indications that are conveyed by people when lying:
They speak in a high-pitched, fast-paced, stuttering voice.
They are constantly swallowing and clearing their throat.
They try their best to avoid having eye contact. This applies particularly to
people who want to avoid discussing a certain topic.
They look somewhere else and glimpse from the corner of their eye.
They stick their tongue out to moist their lips.
They are blinking rapidly.
They rub their throat.
Their arms are crossed over the chest.
They are constantly touching parts of their face, especially the mouth, ear, and
nose as if covering them.
They scratch their head or the back of the neck.
Their poses are closed, descending, and insecure.
Their hands or feet are tapping.
They always look down with shrugged shoulders.
They are constantly moving from one place to another or changing their poses.
They are projecting parts of their body (feet) to an escape route (door).