Non-Verbal Communication: working for or against you on the interview?

While candidates prepare responses to questions they may be asked in an interview, often what candidates overlook is the significance of how responses may be tainted by non-verbal communication.  Body language, tone of voice, and the amount of energy you exclude during an interview all play a role in conveying confidence, credibility, and interest in a job and company. In this blog, I invite you to learn about non-verbal’s influence perception and how you can increase your chances for success when you understand and master your non-verbal messaging.  

The Power of Non-Verbal Communication

Research has determined that there are several categories of non-verbal expression that account for a substantial percentage of the overall message received by the listener. Some of those categories are facial expressions - gestures - tone of voice – eye gaze - posture – energy - personal space and overall appearance. During an interview, these non-verbal categories can speak volumes about your personality, attitude, and emotional state. This allows the Hiring Manager to not only evaluate your qualifications and responses, but also observe your non-verbal signals to form a complete impression of you as a candidate.

Facial Expressions – Gestures – Tone of Voice and Eye Gaze.

During an interview, the Hiring Manager is looking for confidence, competency, cultural compatibility and genuineness. Some indicators of these qualities can be found in facial expressions, gestures, tone of voice and eye gaze.

For example, do you smile often, easily, and appropriately when interviewed? Do you maintain eye contact when responding to questions, signalling confidence, or do you look away when providing a response, as if unsure of your response? Or maybe you shy away from engaging all interviewers during the interview? Sitting with arms crossed at times during the interview, with the occasional tapping of feet, maybe even fidgeting a bit. This could send a message of disinterest, boredom or maybe that you lack the ability to build rapport. 

The thoughts that race through your mind during an interview are powerful and influence your responses. Take a moment to breathe and check-in on your thoughts. There is always time to turn things around should an interview start off a bit shaky. Adjust your thinking and your non-verbals will follow. Keep your thoughts focused and try to relax into the experience. (Although not always an easy task.) You have everything to gain when selected for an interview. So keep it positive!  

Posture – Energy - Personal Space and Overall Appearance - Is this scenario you?

When the Hiring Manager approaches you in the lobby, you get up from the chair you may be sitting in, and extend your hand for a firm handshake. (You did not greet the Hiring Manager from a seated position.) You exchange pleasantries and you walk alongside the Hiring Manager to the room where the interview is to be conducted.

You enter the room and pause for a moment until invited to take a seat. You did not make an assumption as to where you were to sit. You respect the space you are in. You are now seated. Your posture is upright, yet comfortable. You are ready to engage. You came in strong! Energy is up. You did your homework so you feel prepared. You look good, dressed in appropriate interview attire and properly accessorized. Your positive energy and enthusiasm is felt by those in the room when introduced to others in the room. You have made each member of the team feel of equal importance. 

When the interview questions begin, you lean in when providing your responses. Again, showing engagement and confidence. The interviewers feel the passion you bring to your work by how you talk about your accomplishments.  You maintain your confidence throughout the interview. You got this!  

Your nonverbal communication through your posture, personal space and energy can either reinforce or contradict the message you are trying to convey regarding your skills and abilities to perform the job and interest in doing so. When called for an interview, the Hiring Manager and the rest of the team are looking to fix a problem, and the interview is a conversation to discover if you have what it takes to fix the problem. Put yourself on equal footing and realize that both parties (you and the Hiring Manager) have to say "yes" to make this relationship move forward.   

In summary, what has been shared with my readers today is that even though words matter, your non-verbals tell all. One way to ensure that your words and your body language are in sync is through a mock interview.  Practice your responses with your coach or a trusted colleague. Video tape your verbal responses to hear how your responses sound. Set up a zoom call to evaluate how your body language aligns with your responses. Get honest feedback and take note of any areas that need improvement.