The Toronto Sun n Wednesday, April 29,
2015
JOANNE RICHARD
Special to Postmedia Network
Mind Your Ps and Body Cues
Important things to remember when interviewing
for that summer job. “We’re able to read up
to 10,000 nonverbal cues in
less than a minute,”
says
body language expert Patti Wood. “Many hiring
decisions
in an instinctual way, with
the interviewer then
the rest of the interview
looking for evidence
her initial snap
(impression).”
tips from Wood, author
Impressions, Body Language
See success: “Visualize your success before
the interview, rather than
imagining all the things
you might do wrong,” says Wood. Practice “live.”
Close your eyes and visualize yourself in the situation.
Imagine a self-assured handshake and sitting with
confidence — be warm and friendly, listen attentively
and answer questions assertively.
Less stress for success:
interview are do
interaction
By focusing on them, you’re no longer
and your fears.
Manage the shift : “Your interviewer may back away
from you, break off eye
contact, or stop giving
you nonverbal feedback. If
you’re sensing that
something has shifted or
changed, don’t freak out!”
says Wood. Just keep listening, connecting, and
answering the interviewer’s questions. “If it’s appropriate
and fits your personality,
you can even choose
to be a bit feisty and say,
‘What can I do right now to
convince you that I’d be
the best person for this job?’”
Lean into It: Lean forward to show that you are
interested, listening and connecting to what the
interviewer is saying. “But don’t overdo it; you’re not
trying to get in their
face. Just aim for gentle, timely
leans. As interviewees, we
tend to pull back when we
don’t like or are fearful
of a question.”
Show your hands:
“Always keep your hands open and
in view on the table or the
arms of the chair,”
stresses
Wood. Gesture normally. Tightly closed hands reveal
how you feel about the topic being discussed and
the person you are with.
A great ending: The last thing you say or do matters
a great deal! “As
the conversation winds down, make
sure your
belongings are on the left side of your body
so you can
easily shake with your right hand,” says
Wood, adding that you might shake hands more than once.
Shake when you get up, at the door, and after talking for
a bit longer while parting. “Make that seem like the
most natural thing in the
world, because every time
you shake hands, you’re
bonding.”
Even if you feel you bombed the interview,
leave on a high note by closing strongly and confidently.
