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Interviewing Skills: Mind your body language!
Interviewers would observe your body language to see if there is any contradiction between your verbal and nonverbal. According to many studies
on human communication, body language comprises 55% of the force of any response, while the verbal content only have 7%! The others are intonation, pauses and signs during conversations. Therefore, smart interviewers believe
the nonverbal when there is a contradiction.
For example, when you persuade the interviewer that you are a confident and ambitious person, you appear anxious, tongue-tied, and avoid eye contact, do you think the interviewer will be persuaded by
what you "say"?
Important Notes on body language:
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Greet your interviewer with a firm and sincere handshake.
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Choose a chair aside or across from the interviewer's sit, if you are not invited to sit.
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Maintain friendly eye contact.
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Lean forward when you emphasize key points, with expressive gestures, to show your confidence.
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Use facial expressions to express your interest and enthusiasm during conversations.
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Don't interrupt but just nod to show attentive listening when the interviewer is speaking.
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Ask your friends if you have any unconscious but inappropriate gesture, e.g. rubing nose, avoid it if any.
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Don't just mind your own body language, you may read the interviewer to know if you are agreed/ disagreed, or you are encouraged/ discouraged to continue talking...etc., learning to read interviewers' cues can improve your prospects as well!
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