Watch Your Body Language!

Watch Your Body Language!

Picture this scenario.

You are applying for a job in the corporate world. You passed the required examinations and now you scheduled for an interview. You offer a limp handshake and mumble a few words greeting your interviewer. She asks you about your previous employment and you cannot look straight into her eyes. After a few minutes, the interview was over. She advised you to just wait for her call.

Did you know that non-verbal language sends a stronger message than what you actually say?

Observe the people in the corporate world. Many convey the message that they are defensive instead of being frank, direct, and defensive. On the other hand, people from the suburbs display gentleness and kindness. Other types of people display calmness and serenity as if they have achieved completeness and are at peace with the world.

Most of these behaviors are readily recognized by the other people. However, not all forms of non-verbal communication can easily be recognized and comprehended. Other forms of communication need certain levels of acceptance in order to learn the real message behind them.

These neglected forms of communication can affect one’s social standing and even one’s career or future.

Some people use non-verbal forms of communication to detect and assess the behavior of another individual. They use body language in determining a person’s personality and total wellbeing.

Body Language and Your Future Career

Body language is a non-verbal form of communication. This means that the individual tries to communicate his feelings or ideas through gestures or body movements rather than use words or other types of communication.

Corporate people have learned to consider this form of communication as one way of assessing a person especially when applying for a job. They silently evaluate the applicant and decipher whether what he or she is expressing verbally is consistent with his or her actions or gestures.

Body language can be voluntary or involuntary. Their meanings may vary. In the social context, psychologists and sociologists have learned to decipher the meaning of certain body language. This enables a person to gain an understanding of the message being communicated by the other person.

For this reason, experts advice job interviewees and applicants to be aware of their gestures or hand and eye movements as these has great impact on how they come across during an interview.

Applicants should remember that during interviews, employers are very observant and meticulous about the way an individual reacts to the situation, the way he answers the challenging questions, and how he projects himself. This provides the employer a gauge if a person can handle the job better than the other applicants.

Facial Expression

Facial expressions can suggest or express an individual’s emotions or feelings.

In essence, facial expressions are controlled forms of body language. These involve feelings or sentiments. Most often than not, these are spontaneous and instinctive.

Then again, during the interview, it is best to control most of the facial expressions and project an aura of efficiency and confidence. Interviewers or employers would like to see an individual who is eager to get the job done and has a pleasant personality who can work with a team.

An employer can easily sense the applicant’s confidence with himself. An insecure or unconfident person would most likely be fidgety. Even if he will not admit it, his actions will speak for themselves.

Eye Contact

Eye contact is a strong way to convey emotions or feelings towards another person. In fact, experts say that eye contact can have a great impact on social manners. It can directly express one’s confidence and personality.

Eye contact can also build trust. The interviewer can easily evaluate if the applicant is confident of what he is saying. Once trust is established, it would be easy for the applicant to express and highlight his or her skills and accomplishments and eventually get the job.

Avoiding the other person’s eye send signals that may end one’s future career. It could mean that the other person is guilty of something or is trying to avoid the truth.

Gestures

Gestures can also have a large influence during the interview. In most interviews, employers watch how an applicant reacts to certain situation through his facial expressions or “body and facial gestures.”

For instance, if an applicant did not like the idea stated by the interviewer, rolling the eyes could indicate a negative emotion. This simple gesture could mean frustration, annoyance, or arrogance.

All of these things are important during the interview. It is best to be aware of them to avoid negative results. People should use body language to their advantage during interviews. Use it to convey professionalism and confidence. As they say, actions speak louder than words.