It is true that it is impossible to read people’s minds by observing their gestures, but that does not mean that in the world of non-verbal language there are no codes of behavior.
They are not rules that we are taught in classrooms or that we have had to memorize by reading texts, of course, but, even without realizing it, We are always judging what types of postures and movements speak well about a person and which ones speak badly of her.
The fact of knowing how to use or not use this code or “etiquette” of non-verbal communication affects us in many facets of our lives, but if there is a context in which this dimension of our behavior is decisive, it is in the job interview, where the person who interviews us will try to know as much as possible about us in the minimum time.
Gestures and postures to avoid in a selection process
Below you can see the most common mistakes during a job interview regarding non-verbal communication
1. Weak handshake or “steak hand”
The handshake is usually the first contact with the person who is going to interview us, and therefore It is of great importance as a way to make a first impression in the most literal sense In this situation, some people may give a very weak grip (known as a “steak hand”) because of nerves or because they feel intimidated by the situation.
It is important to avoid this: the grip must be firm, to show assertiveness and avoid showing a passive attitude. Besides, It must be accompanied by looking directly into the eyes of the other person
2. Hands in pockets
When nerves appear, it is common to realize that “you have a pair of hands” and you don’t know what to do with them. We are so afraid of making mistakes that we begin to question all our possible moves, and that paralyzes us. One of the solutions found to this is to end the problem by making our hands disappear into our pockets. However, it’s a bad idea
Having your hands in your pockets during a job interview or during the transition between the handshake and the moment in which we are going to sit in the chair that the other person offers us creates the impression of passivity and insecurity. The alternative to this is to let our arms hang normally and use our hands to gesture to accompany our speech.
3. The crossing of arms
Crossing your arms appears as a solution to the nervous problem mentioned above. However, It’s even worse than putting your hands in your pockets since it is a less discreet gesture and also denotes a defensive attitude.
4. Pounce on the table
Once seated at the table where the interview will take place, it is important to maintain an upright position , making the back and thighs maintain a 90-degree angle. Advancing your body on the table, supporting a lot of weight on your arms, is a gesture of tiredness and causes a bad image because it is considered unprofessional.
Another reaction to stressful situations is to touch certain parts of the head and face. Typically, these are the nose, mouth, or hair. It is important to monitor yourself to make sure this does not happen as a repetitive act because it hinders communication by forcing you to keep your gaze somewhat lowered or hide part of your face behind your hand and arm.
6. Avoid eye contact
Keeping your gaze fixed on the face and eyes of the person interviewing us when they speak to us is essential. However, it is important that, instead of focusing on looking into her eyes, we worry more about not stopping looking into her eyes, that is, becoming aware of when we break eye contact instead of doing it during eye contact, since that The opposite can make us worry too much about the image we give and stop paying attention to what we are told.
7. Rest your head on your hand
Supporting the weight of your head on one arm can be an automatic gesture It appears as a response to the stress and fatigue caused by the situation of having to manage our role well during the interview. However, it is something that we have to avoid completely, among other things because it makes our posture become asymmetrical, which gives an image of tiredness and disinterest.
8. Getting too close
It is important to keep in mind that a job interview belongs to the professional field, in which personal distances are greater than during informal treatment. That must be translated into our non-verbal language and We must leave space between us and the interviewer
Positioning yourself diagonally with respect to the person interviewing us is an automatic reaction that some people have when they want to hide part of their face or prefer not to reveal their entire body. This is interpreted as a sign of insecurity and a strategy to remain defensive
10. Bend your back
Staying in a hunched position while sitting is very common in people who are not used to sitting correctly and, In addition to being bad for your health, it gives a bad image, being a sign of fatigue
11. Do not gesture
Nerves can cause us to “freeze” our entire body and limit ourselves to talking This turns our message and our expression into something void of nuance and uninteresting. It is advisable to accompany what we say with hand and arm gestures at the same pace at which we speak.
