When prompted that the interview is over take your time in packing your things, rather than rushing to leave. Don’t loiter either though, just make it clear that you aren’t in such an awkward position that you need to quickly exit. Shake hands again if possible and clear up any last questions that you might have. The interviewer will likely let you know how and when the interview process will be finalized. Make your exit deliberate as you did your entry.
Tag Archive for Interviewer
Gestures
by Chris Site Author • March 6, 2013 • 0 Comments
Never gesture too much because subconsciously it will appear that we are at a loss for words. Don’t restrict gestures either, as they will make us seem uptight and will inhibit our speech flow and always return your hands to your lap after each bout of movement. High status individuals use gestures much less than low status individuals so keep your gestures deliberate, clear and meaningful. If possible and appropriate, mirror the subtle gestures of your interviewer to try to build rapport. The more similar you can make them think you are to them, the more confident they will be in your ability to do the job and fit in.
During The Interview
by Chris Site Author • March 6, 2013 • 0 Comments
Don’t be thrown off by the office set-up, as it might be created to put you at a disadvantage. For example, the chair provided for you might be shorter than the interviewees and a large desk might separate you from them. Don’t concern yourself with this, as everyone else will be viewed with the same conditions. Try your best to seem comfortable in whatever position you happen to be in. Keep your legs uncrossed and flat on the floor with your hands in your lap. Keep your back straight and head up and lean toward the interviewer slightly. Always hit on the averages, not too much and not too little. This goes for everything, appear relaxed, but not too relaxed, use gestures, but not too often and so forth. If the interviewer seems uptight, don’t try to loosen them up with jokes or banter but if they seem personable, or in the mood, it can be advantageous to discuss interests and hobbies. Office photographs can be great links to common interests to help build rapport. If a direct question is asked, answer directly, don’t appear to waste time with the interviewer. Try your best to maintain flow between the communication style of the interviewer and yourself. If they speak quickly, don’t try to keep up, but don’t lag behind either. It’s always better to speak a little bit slower and more confidently than speaking faster than your mind can think.
Maintain good eye contact while speaking and while listening allow for some periods when eye contact is broken. Never cut off the interviewer and offer plenty of cues that you understand what is being said. Speak slowly and confidently and never more than thirty seconds at a time. Nods and approval sounds such as “mhum” makes the interviewer know that you comprehend what is being said and the research shows us that this is important even for high status individuals. If you are genuinely confused by what is said tilt your head to the side to make a query face. If this body language doesn’t yield clarifying information from the interviewer, then ask to hear the information again, as it shows that you are keenly interested in learning more about the work.
To measure your success throughout the interview watch for eye contact, smiling and nodding. The research show us that successful applicants get twice as much eye contact, three times more smiling and twice as much head nodding as unsuccessful ones. Use this information to build your confidence or to ramp up your pitch if things aren’t going well.
Your Entry
by Chris Site Author • March 6, 2013 • 0 Comments
When asked to come in, move in swiftly but not quickly, take your time, but don’t be wasteful of others either. Maintain a steady pace into the office and note what the interviewer is doing. If they are still playing with papers take even more time so they can take a good look at you. Once seated half of your body will be covered by a desk so this is the second to last chance you have to being remembered. If they are ready for you allow them to indict to you where you should sit. If they are busy, then put down your briefcase and make eye contact. If they are still on the phone or doing other things, take a seat and allow them to get ready. When they are set, they will usually shake your hand. If they don’t, then make the effort to shake theirs. It sometimes happens that we don’t shake hands because we “don’t like the looks of someone” but perhaps it is due to having had a long day interviewing so we wouldn’t want to let an opportunity to provide a good handshake slip us by. After you shake hands, if you haven’t already, immediately take a seat instead of towering over them.
Job Interview Body Language
by Chris Site Author • March 6, 2013 • 0 Comments
More than anything else during a job interview is the overall impression you leave with your prospective employer. Your credentials including your resume and even what you say will all be long forgotten minutes after you leave the interviewer’s office. They may recall certain things you said, but they won’t key in on them specifically. Instead the interviewer will key in on how you said them. In fact, most studies agree that job interviews are a fairly unproductive affair, as how you are rated, and whether or not you are hired, has more to do with how much you are liked by the interviewer than any other factor.
Body language during an interview is simple. All that is required of you is to convey that you are competent, qualified and most importantly, that you will fit in with the current company’s structure without causing problems. This raises a common misconception about job interviews which says that standing out from the other applicants is the goal, but in reality, fitting in should be your primary objective. The following are some tips to taking a proper interview.
Eye Contact During A Job Interview
by Chris Site Author • March 5, 2013 • 0 Comments
Eye contact during an interview has been repeatedly found to have a powerful influence on the interviewer. Interviewees who hold good eye contact tend to receive more favourable hiring decisions, to be rated more positively and to be rated more suitable for jobs requiring self confidence.
The most appropriate types of eye contact in an interview have been shown through research to be about two to three second bursts of eye contact followed by looking away. Looking down continuously or avoiding eye contact altogether, or conversely, holding extended eye contact can all result in poor judgment. Continuous shifting of the eyes around the room can come off as dishonest and can make people think that you are expecting to be bust at anytime. For what, the interviewee doesn’t know, but he will remain suspicious nonetheless. Looking toward the door or appearing distracted by what is going on outside a window will only serve to demonstrate your lack of interest in the job position and negative feelings will be attached to you personally. Poor eye contact might also be taken by the interviewer personally and he may become offended. As interviewees, we must pay particular attention to good eye contact while listening and while speaking. Most of us are good at one, but not both, but being aware of our shortcomings is at least a good first step. So don’t dismiss good eye language in an interview and follow the patterns described above: two to three second bursts of eye contact followed by looking away.