| "Interview Body Language: It is Not What
You Said
In a job interview, your body language speaks volumes to a recruiter.
By David Blend
In all likelihood, a recruiter won't browbeat you, torture you, or
threaten you with jail time, but that doesn't mean the on-campus interview
won't feel a bit like an interrogation. The room is usually cramped and
Spartan. Every word echoes, every movement is accentuated. It is enough to
make a candidate forget about a job and start thinking about an alibi.
In such an environment, an interviewee's body language--how he crosses
his legs or sits in the chair--can actually make more of an impression on
the interviewer than whatever well-rehearsed words might spill from his
lips. Reams of psychological research suggest that while most facial
expressions, body postures, and movements do not communicate information per
se, they do advertise an attitude. Moreover, the wrong attitude can mean the
difference between a fat signing bonus and a trip back to school--for a law
degree.
A Hands-On Attitude
The most vexing question that many interviewees ask themselves is not
"Should I hold out for a company Lexus?" but rather, "What should I do with
my hands?" Does folding them on the lap seem controlled, or passive? Does
gesticulating make someone look energetic, or like an irate cabdriver? The
answer depends on the interviewer, according to psychologist Laurence
Stybel, president of Stybel, Peabody and Lincolnshire, a Boston-based career
management service that prepares senior executives for job interviews.
Before deciding what to do with your hands, Stybel suggests that you analyze
the language the company uses in its job description. If it tosses around
energetic adjectives like fast and rapid, then sawing the air with your
hands sends the right message because it indicates a willingness to be
aggressive. If the company prefers consistency and reliability, place your
hands quietly on your lap.
Lip Service
Touching your lips can be an indicator of deception, says Mike Caro, known
throughout the high-stakes gambling world as the Mad Genius of Poker. "If a
speaker touches or obscures her face, especially her lips, there's a
better-than-usual chance that you have just heard something that was
uncomfortable to say, and that the speaker may have been lying or
exaggerating," explains Caro. Moreover, he should know: He makes a living
reading the subtle cues of his opponents. Two tips for appearing on the
level: Show the palms of your hands during an interview, or touch your chest
with your palm.
Armed and Dangerous
Like the word aloha, crossing one's arms can communicate many things. Sadly,
defensiveness, insecurity, inflexibility, and closed-mindedness are not
going to earn anybody a company trip to the Big Island. "It is almost like
you're saying, 'What more do you people want from me?'" says Jody
Swartzwelder, assistant director of campus recruiting for Arthur Andersen in
Dallas.
The Handshake
A recruiter's first impression of you is often formed when you shake hands
-- which is why you should never, ever extend a hand that is even slightly
moist. Sweaty palms say one of three things: "I'm out of shape and
frightened," "I am vaguely reptilian and therefore wholly untrustworthy," or
"I am perhaps just a little bit too happy to meet you."
Angling for Position
Tipping back in the chair is a sure indicator of an interviewee's
overconfidence, and projects a subtle air of disdain. It is far better,
recruiters say, to seem eager than arrogant. But leaning too far forward
makes job candidates look as if they might pounce on their interviewers at
any moment and demand to know "where the money's hidden." "You want to
choose a moderate position that isn't too cocky but definitely lets the
interviewer know that you are awake and aware," says Lauren Shapiro, who, as
regional campus manager for Connecticut-based Deloitte Consulting, has
supervised more than a thousand interviews.
Legwork
Which makes a stronger statement: legs crossed or feet planted on the floor?
"It's hard to get comfortable in an interview, so choose whichever position
puts you at ease," says Deloitte's Shapiro. She does caution, however, that
if you cross your legs, they should be crossed all the way. "Resting your
ankle on your knee conveys an overly casual attitude," she says. The most
important thing, though, is to find a position and stick with it. Constant
shifting can make an interviewee look, well, shifty.
Don't Touch Your Nose
Studies conducted at Chicago's Smell & Taste Treatment and Research
Foundation show that touching the outside of the nose can be a prime
indicator of lying. Guilt associated with deceptiveness triggers a rise in
blood pressure, which then causes tissues in the nose to stretch and release
histamine. The histamine causes itching, which in turn induces scratching.
Recruiters may or may not be up on this research, but why find out the hard
way?
Nice Gesture
Job candidates should definitely convey enthusiasm for the position they are
after. According to Andersen's Swartzwelder, pressing your fingers together
to form a steeple not only shows interest but also suggests assertiveness
and determination. Steepling can be overdone, however, especially when
accompanied by a malevolent grin and the words "Your petty enterprise is no
match for my cruel ambitions."
Eye Contact
Make it. Avoiding eye contact is unnerving for the interviewer and creates
the impression that you are hiding something.
Show You Care
If you get past the interview stage, you may have the pleasure of receiving
a salary offer. Most candidates are perceptive enough not to break into a
rendition of "We Are the Champions" at this point. "The natural tendency
would be to look away and act indifferent if an offer is more than a person
expected," explains Caro. It is the equivalent, he says, of a poker player
with a strong hand acting nonchalant when he wants an opponent to bet. If
you want to up your own ante, it might be better to take a direct approach.
After all, you are up against a pro."
<Note from JobFairy.com: For additional information, you should read
Mike Caro's Book of Tells. He's a poker player who's expert on body
language. Another good book for background on watching behaviors is Gavin
deBecker's Gift of Fear.> |