‘I’ve always had the ability to persuade people to come on board with my new ideas.’
Not a bad choice of words in a job interview.
Now, picture the image… Shoulders slumped…Eyes downcast…Voice quavering.
Hmmm… not a very convincing picture, is it?
Statistics highlight that a performance like this in a job interview is unlikely to result in a job offer. In fact, no matter what the style of interview, 33% of 2,000 bosses surveyed by Jobvite indicated they knew within the first 90 seconds if they would hire that candidate even though the average length of an interview is 40 minutes. Pretty scary stuff!
Perhaps without even realising it, these bosses were judging each candidate based on First Impressions, assessing Body Language (55%), Voice (38%) and Words (7%).
Body Language Rules the World
Many of us have heard these statistics before. So, if we know how important Body Language is in an interview, why don’t we focus on it when preparing?
One of my friends rarely looks at me when I’m chatting to him. His eyes are everywhere except on me. It’s quite disconcerting but I accept it as part of the give and take of relationships.
This isn’t going to happen with a stranger. Alienate a prospective employer at your interview by not obeying the rules of eye contact, for example, and it’s all over.
If you’re an Executive, you might think you’ve left such mistakes behind. In fact, I’ve seen some of the worst errors from senior Managers. Given that the standard expected of an Executive is so high, it’s even more critical that you review your ability in this area.
Here are the five most common errors I have encountered.
Mistake #1 – HANDS:
Offer a dry and cool handshake that obeys the cultural rules of your job market.
When I worked in Malaysia, I was charmed by the delicate, very gentle handshake I received from many of the women. In Australia, on the other hand, people generally expect a handshake to be firm and strong, even from women.
Rules about handshakes will vary from culture to culture so make sure that you are au fait with those of the culture in which you operate. Here are key errors:
- Giving someone a moist, damp handshake.
Before an interview, you’re likely to be nervous. If it’s hot, arrive early and cool down somewhere nearby. Wipe your palm with a handkerchief or tissue. - Extending your arm straight out in front.
This sends the message that you want to keep the other person at a distance. Instead, your arm and theirs should form a loose ‘W’. - Shrinking the angle of your arm.
This brings you very close to the other person, possibly invading their personal space. - Misjudging how firmly and how long to shake the other person’s hand.
Two to three pumps are more than enough.
A useful tip when you shake a person’s hand is to look them in the eye – an simple way to make a connection, to break down barriers. It’s harder for someone to be critical of you when they’ve started to connect with you, even in such a superficial way.
Mistake #2 – STANCE:
Walk straight and strong.
Keep your shoulders back, your head looking straight ahead and walk with energy.
This becomes even more important as we age. I used to thank my lucky stars that my years of Irish Dancing and ballet meant I walked with a straight back. Imagine my horror when my physio told me I was becoming round shouldered! Ever since, I’ve worked on my posture to avoid that dreaded Dowager’s hump.
Mistake #3 – FIDDLING:
Relax!
This means no repetitive gestures such as clicky pencils or jiggling knees that distract or annoy the interviewer. Fiddling with hair, face or neck sends the message of anxiety and uncertainty. Body language experts agree that touching the nose, lips or ears can signal that the candidate is lying.
Here are the common culprits that I’ve come across:
- Clicking the pen.
Do not take one into the interview. - Twisting the ring or bracelet.
This is usually such an ingrained habit that, again, it’s better to leave them at home. - Twirling the strand of hair or (even worse) the beard.
Film yourself practising answers to interviews. It will take you quite a while to break this habit.
Mistake #4 – BAD POSTURE:
Think of the Victorians.
Posture is something you’ve possibly never thought of. Here are the common culprits:
- Crossed arms.
Some people say it conveys weakness, some say it conveys fear, others say it conveys defensiveness. Nobody says anything good about it. - A lesser culprit here is when you have one arm defensively crossed over your torso and the other arm cradling / shielding your face.
This makes you look uncertain and insecure. - Leaning back in the chair with hands crossed behind your head.
This is a glaring error and makes you look quite arrogant. - Sliding down in the chair and leaning away from the listener.
This sends a message you’d rather be somewhere else and don’t want to connect with the other person. A variation is leaning on the boardroom table. This leaves you only one hand to gesture with and you often end up looking like a ventriloquist’s puppet. - Then there’s the slump where you hunch over with slumped shoulders.
This makes you look defeated and lacking in authority. - Let’s not forget the knees. Very rare, but worth a mention.
Crossing one knee over the other leg so that the crossed knee forms an outward triangle is so relaxed that it can be perceived as disrespectful, at least in most office settings.
Finally, sitting on the edge of your chair can come across as being nervous and tense. Instead, place your bottom firmly at the back of the chair, put your shoulders back (though not like a sergeant major) and lean forward slightly. This indicates that you are comfortable and feeling confident.
Place your arms in your lap or on the arms of the chair. This allows you to gesticulate naturally as you talk. (As an aside, I almost always find a direct correlation between fake, stilted language and failure to use your hands. I’ve concluded it’s because there’s no emotional element in the language, so your body has no natural inclination to get involved.)
Mistake #5 – POOR EYE CONTACT:
Learn the rules and then, obey them.
This is a very common way of ruling yourself out of a job. Classic errors are:
- Failing to maintain eye contact when the other person is speaking.
When listening, it’s very simple: maintain 100% eye contact. Avoid an aggressive stare by blinking at regular intervals and moving your head every now and then, such as giving a small nod. - Creating a staring competition when you’re speaking.
This makes the listener feel very uncomfortable and means they have to break the rules by looking away. Hold eye contact for periods of about 6-10 seconds before looking away briefly and then re-establishing eye contact.
- Looking down as you pause to construct your next response.
The occasional downward glance is fine but if you do this regularly it makes you look quite uncertain. - Flickering and fleeting eye contact.
This is quite rare. It suggests extreme shyness and lack of confidence - Failing to look at all panel members as you speak.
Generally, you should devote more attention to the person who asked you the question, but also include all others in the room in your gaze.
Go Hard, Go Early
I used to think it was my duty as a caring human being to overlook poor Body Language from someone I was communicating with. Recently, however, there’s been an argument put forward that our responses to poor Body Language are not just hard-wired, they’re a relevant tool to help us assess new people we meet.
Regardless of the philosophy, there’s absolutely no disputing the importance of mastering Body Language if you want to win that job.
At a minimum, film yourself as you practise answering interview questions. Any Body Language errors should positively leap out at you. It doesn’t take that long to eliminate them, in my experience.
That way, your hard work to deliver interesting, convincing arguments about why you are the ideal job candidate will not be wasted on your decision maker.
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