Page 152 - 101 Dynamite Answers to Interview Questions

Handle Yourself Non verbally 145

. Make frequent eye contact with the interviewer(s). Eye
contact establishes rapport with the interviewer. You appear
interested in what is being said, and you will be perceived as
more trustworthy if you will look at the interviewer as you ask
and answer questions. To say someone has “shifty eyes” or
cannot “look us in the eye” is to imply they may not be com-
pletely honest. To have a direct, though moderate, eye gaze in
our culture conveys interest as well as trustworthiness.

Project a pleasant facial expression. A face that appears alive
and interested conveys a positive attitude. Smile enough to
convey your positive attitude, but not so much that you will not
be taken seriously. Some people naturally smile often while
others hardly ever smile. Monitor your behavior or ask a friend
to give you feedback. Certainly your facial expression should be
compatible with what is being discussed; avoid smiling inanely
all the time. Ideally your face should reflect honest interest in
the dynamics of the interview. Give the interviewer facial
feedback rather than an expressionless deadpan.
TEAMFLY
. Convey interest and enthusiasm through your vocal inflec-
tions. Though not a visual component, vocal inflection is a
critical element of nonverbal communication. Your tone of voice
says a lot about you and how interested you are in the inter-
viewer and the organization. Your voice is one of the greatest
projectors of dynamism available to you. Use it effectively both
in the face-to-face interview and in a telephone interview.

Project Class and Competence

The way you stand, sit, and walk - essentially how you carry yourself -
has a bearing on how others perceive you. According to John Molloy, the
“l00k” that impresses interviewers the most is the upper class carriage -
the look of class.
Even if your background is not upper class, as a youngster you were
probably prodded by someone in your family to improve how you stood,
sat, or walled. Comments such as “Keep your shoulders back, ” “Keep your
head erect,’’ or “Don’t sZouclz” were good advice. If you did not pay much

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