Why is body language so important?

May 25, 2015
Newsletter Article

A half hour phone call can save hours of your organization's time. Pre-screening applicants is a must for recruiting and hiring the best employees. You can discover whether the candidate has the knowledge and experience you need. You can screen for applicants who expect a salary that is out of your league. You can gain a sense about the person's congruity with your culture. Always pre-screen applicants.

Taken from GetTheJob.com.au

Why is body language so important?
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When we communicate:

• 7 % of the message comes from the words we use

• 38 % comes from the tone we use

• 55 % comes from our body language

The handshake
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A positive handshake will break the ice and will get the interview moving in the right direction.

How to execute the perfect handshake
As your approach your interviewer, make eye contact and be sure to give a smile showing some teeth. Meet head on facing them directly. This will promote openness, confidence and trustworthiness.

On your approach, extend your right hand. Continue to smile. The aim here is to connect with your interviewer the part of your hand between your thumb and forefinger. This part should interlock with the same part of your interviewers hand.

Your grip should be just right. Natural and friendly. Crushing grips can be seen as over powering or obnoxious. A limp grip can give an impression of disinterest. Your grip should be a comfortable pressure communicating confidence and ability.

Handshake blunders

Shaking the tips of the finger - May be perceived as a lack of self confidence.

Energetic arm pump - Can sometimes be perceived as insincere.

Extending your arm with your palm facing down - This may be be seen as disrespectful.

Eye contact
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Not only does eye contact display confidence on your part, it also helps you understand what the other person is really saying verbally.

Looking someone in the eye as you meet and talk with him / her also shows you are paying attention. Listening is the most important human relations skill. Good eye contact plays a large part in conveying our interest in others.

When to look
Begin as soon as you start a conversation with someone. You may wish to begin even earlier if you are trying to get someone's attention. Be sure to maintain direct eye contact as you are saying good bye. It will help leave a positive and lasting impression.

How long to look for
Consider 70 - 80 % of the time. Long stares can be seen as being too direct and can make the other person feel uncomfortable. It's ok to glance down occasionally as long as your gaze returns quickly to the other person.

Posture
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When you slouch, you look disinterested. Keep your head up, shoulders back, chest out. When seated, lean forward slightly from the hip. This will help make you look interested.

Arms / hands
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During an interview never fold your arms above your head. This will signal to your interviewer that you may be bored during the interview. This type of action can also give an impression of layed back / at ease.
Gesturing / talking with your hands is natural. Keep in mind that getting carried away with hand gestures can also be distracting. Avoid touching your mouth when talking.

Smile
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Your smile is a powerful way to show your interviewer that your a happy and positive person. Showing some teeth will also help on a sub conscious level.

Other signals
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arms crossed

• Cautious, defensive reserved, uninterested in a conversation.

Tapping fingers

• Agitated, anxious, bored, calculating.

Resting you palm on your chin

• Critical, cynical and negativity towards the receiver.

Nose-rubbing or nose-touching when giving a verbal response

• A sign of doubt, dishonesty.

Rubbing around ears when giving a verbal response

• Performed while winging an answer, commonly associated with 'I don't know' type response.

Leaning forward

• Interested, willingness to comprehend.

Rubbing the back of your head or neck