2012

A-Z Body Language Tips

-An Aspiring Minds Guide On Body Language

CONTENT
TOPIC Page No.

A Million Questions!!!

Body Language - The Non Verbal Cues

A-Z Body language Tips

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Dos & Donts of Body Language

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How to make a first Good Impression

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Some Web References

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2012 All rights reserved by Aspiring Minds Assessment (P) Ltd

A Million Questions!!!

Do you know that your body language can say a lot more about you than your words during a job interview? Are you confused about how to present yourself in the best possible manner in front of the interview panel? Fidgeting, fumbling, uncomfortable expressions or gestures do these really turn off an interviewer??
BODY LANGUAGE THE NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION Youve spent hours to document your resume so that it is perfect in all respects, dug up every possible website about the company on Google and rehearsed the best answers to the interview questions that could be possibly asked, but then just before the interviewer begins, you suddenly start fumbling out of nervousness. Has it ever happened to you? Even if youre the most suitable employee for the company youve applied for, if you dont present a positive body language in front of the interviewer, you could be out of the running! Do you know that you can give out hundreds of non-verbal hints through your body language within the first few minutes of your interview and these often overlooked cues make more impact than the words you use during the interview? Let us consider the following situations of an interview: (A) Youve been asked to wait outside the interview room before the interview begins, would you Patiently wait for your turn? OR Nervously practice answers to the questions that could be asked?

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(B) While introducing yourself to the interviewer, do you... Make a strong eye contact with him and offer a firm handshake? OR Make limited eye contact & offer a weak/uncomfortably domineering handshake? (C) And as the interview begins would you Speak passionately and expressively? OR Speak carefully controlled/rehearsed answers?

Whether you know it or not, in each of the situations above, your body language would give off important clues to your interviewer about what sort of an employee you would be! Studies have indicated that body language accounts for 55% of a response and a mere 7% of the message is conveyed verbally. So even before your interview begins, your body language might spill the beans! Let us delve deeper into the A-Z world of non-verbal communication a.k.a. Body Language that can be seen and physically observed among people...

A - ARMS Arms give away the clues of openness or whether an individual is psychologically secure/insecure. An individual could be perceived as a defensive/reserved/uninterested during a conversation if his arms appear to be folded across his chest. While waiting for an interview or while sitting in front of the interviewer, keep your arms to the side of the body or behind your back (with the hands clasped) if you are standing. During the interview, keep your hands on the arm rest of the chair and sit confidently in front of the interviewer.

B - BACK CHANNEL SIGNALS Yeah, Uh-huh, Hmm are some of the cues which indicate that a speaker is being heard during a conversation; while gestures like nodding and smiling convey that the listener is in agreement with the speaker. These signals would indicate that youve been paying attention to the interviewer and want to know more about what he is saying.

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C - COMPOSURE/ keep your nerves CALM! A little nervousness is expected in the beginning of the interview, but one needs to be calm to look competent and confident of ones abilities. Take a deep breath before answering each question it will not only calm your nerves, but will also give you time to think and carefully put together your answer. People who are good at controlling their nerves during the interview demonstrate a sign of confidence and are less likely to fumble.

Tippys Tip Make #12012 a positive entrance in the interview room a confident and purposeful entry into
the room is often perceived as an individual with a positive attitude. Hesitations or fidgeting will make you appear unsure of yourself.

D - DONT SLOUCH: Sitting in a lazy posture or drooping into the chair would mean that you arent interested to take up the job or simply not paying attention to the interviewer! Pull your chair towards the desk and lean slightly forward while sitting this would make you look more attentive and engaged in the conversation.

E - EYE CODING Eyes are a very significant aspect of non-verbal signals we send to others. A speaker looking at the right side during a conversation could imply that he/she is fabricating the facts or lying whereas if a speaker is looking at the left (from the side of the speaker himself) it could mean that he is remembering/retrieving facts. Staring at the interviewer clearly gives away an impression of either nervousness or that the listener is completely puzzled/blank. Just in case of an interruption - like a person entering into the room during the interview or in case the interviewer gets busy in an important phone call, avoid an eye contact with the interviewer to show that you respect his privacy!

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In case there are multiple interviewers in the room, always maintain an eye contact with the interviewer addressing you, but make sure that when you reply, you look at all the interviewers present in the room at some point during your conversation.

F - FIDGETING Dont fidget in front of the interviewer! Shaking your legs, moving restlessly in the chair or tapping your fingers on the desk will make you either seem nervous or agitated. Fidgeting is not only a barrier to projecting yourself as a confident candidate but could also be distracting for the interviewer - when you try to get something across to him/her. Try to relax and focus on your movements during the interview - the interviewer might be critically observing you!

G - GESTURES Hand movements play an important role in communication and help you to emphasize on key points you want to highlight. According to the rules of Body Language, use of the right hand during a conversation signifies that the speaker is giving out information, while gestures of the left hand are often indicative of ones eagerness to receive information. Dont forget to keep your actions smooth and natural overdone hand gestures might distract the interviewer!

Tippys Tip #12012 There are certain habits that could cost you a job like biting nails/fondling hair/playing with the
accessories youve worn. These indicate insecurity, nervousness and lack of confidence. Acts like rubbing eyes, looking down and scratching your face during a conversation convey disbelief or a doubt; while stroking the chin or pulling/scratching the ear implies indecisiveness and should be avoided during an interview.

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H - HANDSHAKING Firmness of a handshake can reveal your personality before the interview could actually begin! The three main orientations which occur during a handshake are palm down which is usually indicative of dominance, palm up indicating an accommodating nature and an even palm projecting trustworthiness and honesty. A weak handshake that has far too little pressure indicates a submissive personality. So next time you offer a handshake to your interviewer, you better be careful!

I - INDICATORS OF DISINTERST This includes the nonverbal cues or signals put out by an individual which shows he/she is not interested in an interaction. Crossing your arms/legs, dressing inappropriately, avoiding eye contact with the interviewer, tapping fingers on the desk are some of the cues that could show your disinterest/boredom during the interview avoid them at all costs!

While answering during an interview, you should always demonstrate a positive and serious attitude to the interviewer. Sit upright, hold your head vertically and place your hands in your lap. This will make you appear confident, giving your answers an added authority.

Tippys Tip #22012

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J - JITTERY It is quite natural to be nervous during an interview. But nervous gestures like fumbling while speaking, biting/licking lips, constantly nodding the head could just make you look unsure of yourself. You should analyze yourself and find out which gestures you are more partial to. Take help from your friends - they would tell you your general gestures during the nervousness and then practice to curb them. Clumsy or inappropriate actions could indicate that you are an amateur and an inelegant person.

K - KINESICS! In a job interview, the right kinesics (expressions, eye contact, gestures and body posture) can drastically improve your chances of being hired. Be careful - as some interviewers are trained to detect body language and can figure out instances of lying and dishonesty. Avoiding eye contact, covering the mouth, rolling of the eyes in a particular direction can spill the beans that youve been lying.

L - LYING/ DECEPTIVE BODY LANGUAGE: Think twice before you lie or make up those perfect answers in front of the interviewer! There are many interviewers who can read your body language very well and find out if youre lying. Touching the face during the conversation, scratching the neck or pulling ears, closed body postures (crossed arms/legs), avoiding an eye contact with the interviewer, fumbling while speaking and inconsistent stories can clearly indicate that the person is lying. Physiological changes in the body like increased sweating, holding the breath, jerky body movements also convey that the person is fabricating stories.

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M - MIRRORING Make an effort but subtly! Mirroring is basically reproducing the positive signals a speaker sends during a conversation. For example, if the interviewer leans forward to make a point; a few moments later, you too should lean forward to show that youre paying attention. If the interviewer makes a subtle laughter, laugh beneath his laughter.

N - NOD, at appropriate times Nod once in a while during the interview to convey that you are paying attention. Too much nodding can be a distraction, so don't overdo it!

O - OBSERVE yourself, improve yourself Practicing answers in front of a mirror is a good option to analyze and improve your body language. This would give you a feedback on how you appear to others and thus give you an opportunity to practice a bit before going out for the final interview.

Tippys Tip
Try to pose the same as way the interviewer poses - mirroring. Many a times, people are more comfortable with others who appear to have the same comfort level as they have. Be careful not to copy any negative action/expression!

P - POSTURE: get the right one! Posture a position of an individuals body while standing or sitting is the next thing to master in your body language. So if you keep your posture the way it ideally should be, you'll automatically start feeling confident! Next time you notice you're feeling a bit down, take a look at how youre standing or sitting. You'll find yourself slouched all over the place a thing you would surely like to avoid in an interviewer!

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Q - QUIT, if required Its always a good decision to ask the interviewer to get on to the next question, so dont blabber if youre not sure about the right answer! In case you need some time to recall the answer, politely ask the interviewer for it. Else, there could be a possibility that you may start fumbling because you may be thinking and speaking simultaneously. It could portray lack of confidence or nervousness to the interviewer.

R - RAPPORT Have you ever noticed how dancers achieve a perfect unison during a dance performance? Just like a dance performance, a good conversation is one in which the speaker and the listener are believed to have achieved a perfect rapport. Taking proper turns during the speech, matched pace, tone and volume, mirroring with respect to posture create a seamless and synchronous conversation. Try to achieve a perfect rapport during the interview; it could create a great impact on the interviewer.

S - SMILE, it costs nothing: Practice a strong, sincere smile! An energetic and a cheerful smile during the interview will convey that you will be a happy and an optimistic employee for the organization. Practice a smile that puts people at ease. It's just as much your responsibility as the interviewers to ensure a calm and easy atmosphere during the interview. Be careful to avoid a false, pretentious smile people often deliver senselessly to impress the interviewer!

Tippys Tip
Though interviews are a serious business, but that doesnt mean you need to be longfaced! Smiling occasionally during the conversation will show that youre relaxed, confident, and generally pleasant.

2012 All rights reserved by Aspiring Minds Assessment (P) Ltd

T - TONALITY The tone of your voice is also a part of the non-verbal communication, especially during the telephonic interviews, where the only way an interviewer can judge your personality (beyond the answers which you give) is through the tone of your voice. Dull or carefully rehearsed answers can make you appear uninterested for the job. On the other hand, changing the tone of your voice will make you appear engaged in an interview! Make sure that you dont end up showing too many emotions over the phone changes in the tone of your voice shouldnt be abrupt.

U - UNDIVIDED ATTENTION: Cues which make you appear inattentive during the interview such as scanning the room, avoiding eye contact; frequently checking time in the wrist watch/clock can distract the interviewer and clearly show your lack of interest in the job! Try to be attentive an attentive body language shows that you have a sincere interest in what the interviewer is saying. One way to appear to be actively listening is to nod and lean towards the speaker.

V - VENTRAL FRONTING/ DISTANCING: Ventral fronting means to lean towards a person, signaling that the listener is in agreement with the speaker and is attentively engaged in the conversation. Ventral denial or ventral distancing (leaning backwards, orienting the torso away from the speaker) indicates that a person doesnt agree with the speaker and is uninterested. Try to practice the ventral fronting that could be most comfortably accepted by the interviewer sitting in front of you.

2012 All rights reserved by Aspiring Minds Assessment (P) Ltd

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W - WAIT, dont hurry! Let the interviewer decide the place where he would like you to sit! So just dont rush into the interview room and grab the chair. Enter the room in a calm and composed manner. Even while answering, dont rush to get out a response, let the interviewer finish the question, take some time to think about the answer and then finally share your thoughts. This way you would stay calm and your answer would appear more organized.

X - eXpressions It is important not to forget that excessive/restrained display of expressions can undermine your chances of getting a job! Avoid frowning, biting your lips, wrinkling the nose. Smiling is a good way to portray you as an enthusiastic and sociable individual, but make sure it doesnt seem forced just to impress the interviewer! A smile should be as natural as possible.

Y - YAWN: a strict no! An interviewer is not interested to know whether you were up until 2 in the morning researching about the company or partying with friends. If you yawn during the interview and think you werent caught up on this act, then think again! A yawn can say a lot about you you lack time management skills or that youre simply not interested in the entire interview process.

Z - ZEAL Zeal if portrayed correctly through the body language marks a good impression on the interviewer. This would show that you are not only enthusiastic to join the organisation but would also come across as likeable individual who will be committed to his/her work. You should also mention once during the interview that you are willing to learn.

2012 All rights reserved by Aspiring Minds Assessment (P) Ltd

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Concluding the interview One should always end up an interview with the same composure and poise as it began. Even if you think that you could have done better in that one answer, a firm handshake and a confident smile in the end could definitely go some way to rescue you out from the situation! While positive body language will not help you get into a job/organization you arent qualified for, but it will surely strengthen your case where you deserve to be! Not only in case of a job interview, but in all walks of life it will help you to feel self-confident and in control.

DONT YAWN

SMILE
DONT FIDGET

Dos & Donts

FIRM HANDSHAKE

Of BODY LINGO

MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT

DONT FOLD ARMS NOD, AT TIMES

DONT SLOUCH

2012 All rights reserved by Aspiring Minds Assessment (P) Ltd

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Interview Day? Heres how to make a good first Impression!

1. Be Presentable First things first! It is most important to dress up well for an interview. Sleep well the night before the interview so that you dont look tired in front of the interviewer. Make sure you have dressed your best for the interview.

2. Stop Practicing It is quite common to see people rehearsing answers before an interview. Avoid overdoing it! Too much practice could bring monotony to your answers & may make you appear dull and boring.

3. Sit Confidently Always sit confidently while waiting outside the interview room for you turn. You never know when the interviewer might walk in or out of the interview room. If he/she catches glimpse of you nervously roaming and rehearsing answers, that could be enough evidence for him/her to conclude that you arent much a confident candidate!

4. Make a Great Introduction Shake hands with a nice firm grip, speak up and be active in introducing yourself to the interviewer. The interviewer will not just judge you on your answers but on the tone of your voice and your confidence. Make an eye contact; smile during the conversation to appear as a sociable and likeable person.

2012 All rights reserved by Aspiring Minds Assessment (P) Ltd

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REFERENCES: Please find below a list of web references for some body language tips:

How to ace an interview with your body language http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEr6ptZ4JQU

Body Language in a Job Interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd_dGhHAAFc

Job Interview - Creating a Positive Impression http://www.monkeysee.com/play/15917-job-interview-creating-a-positiveimpression

ChangingMinds.org: Using Body Language http://changingminds.org/techniques/body/body_language.htm (A guide to how to use body language to communicate more effectively)

5 Body language Tips for a Job Interview: http://www.5min.com/Video/5-Body-language-Tips-for-a-Job-Interview-302426097

Interview Skills Training- Part 4.2| Body language in an Interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f6ANQVukgw

2012 All rights reserved by Aspiring Minds Assessment (P) Ltd

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2012 All rights reserved by Aspiring Minds Assessment (P) Ltd

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