The 7 Worst Body Language Mistakes Job Seekers Make
Failure
to make eye contact and playing with hair are two of the most common body
language mistakes people make in job interviews.
Your
dream employer is hiring, so you do your homework; submit your resume; land
yourself an interview; and kill it in the hot seat. You're pretty confident
it's in the bag.
But
on your way out, you shake the interviewers hand, thank him for his time, and
completely blow your chances.
How?
The handshake was weak and you failed to make eye contact.
That's
right, these simple mistakes can cost you the job, according to expert Tonya
Reiman, author of "The Power of Body Language."
"When someone first meets you,
an evaluation is quietly and unconsciously taking place. There is an
incredible amount of processing going on as millions of neurons in the brain
are activated and working to determine if they believe you to be credible,
trustworthy, and likable. That impression is based primarily on your
nonverbal communication."
So, from the moment you arrive for a
job interview until the moment you leave, you need to be keenly aware of your
gestures and nonverbal cues.
Here are seven common body language
mistakes that can cost you the job:
1. Bad posture.
Always be aware of your posture. "People don't realize
that the job interview begins in the waiting room, but it does. So don't slouch
in the chair in the reception area," Reiman says. "In order to be
perceived as confident, you must sit or stand tall, with your neck elongated,
ears and shoulders aligned, and chest slightly protruding." This position
changes the chemicals in our brain to make us feel stronger and more confident,
and it gives the outward appearance of credibility, strength, and vitality, she
explains.
2. Bad handshake.
People tend to show their dominating personality by
gripping the interviewers hand and palming it down, but this tells the
interviewer that you need to feel powerful, Reiman explains. "Instead, the
handshake should be more natural: thumbs in the upward position and two to
three pumps up and down." As the applicant, you should always wait for the
interviewer to extend their hand first, she adds.
3. Sweaty palms.
There is nothing worse than shaking hands with someone who
has clammy palms. "If this is you, go into the bathroom and rinse your
wrists under cold water for a good minute," she suggests. "This will
give you dry palms for roughly 10 minutes so your first handshake is a strong
and powerful one — not sweaty and insecure."
4. Lack of eye contact.
" Make
sure you offer the appropriate amount of eye contact, " Reiman says.
" If you don ' t, the interviewer will assume you are either insecure, don
' t have an appropriate answer for the question being asked, or are being
deceptive. Does that mean it's true? No, but perception is everything in
a job interview. "
5. Fidgeting.
Playing with your hair, touching your face, or any other
kind of fidgeting can be a major distraction for your interviewer. It also
demonstrates a lack of power, Reiman says. "When we touch our faces or
hair, it is because we need self soothing." Is that the message you want
to send to your interviewer?
6. Appearing distracted or
uninterested.
You don't want to be shifting in
your chair or crossing and uncrossing your legs, she says. This may tell the
interviewer that you're bored. Instead, demonstrate interest by leaning
slightly forward, tilting your head, and nodding on occasion.
7.
Failing to smile.
Reiman says smiling demonstrates confidence,
openness, warmth, and energy. "It also sets off the mirror neurons in
your listener instructing them to smile back. Without the smile, an individual
is often seen as grim or aloof," she concludes.
By
Jacquelyn Smith https://in.finance.yahoo.com/news/7-worst-body-language-mistakes-141223107.html
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