Non-Verbal Communication During Job Interview Part II: More About How to Use Nonverbal Communication in Hiring

We would like to continue discussing the topic of non-verbal communication during job interviews in this entry. Today we are going to share with you the article Believe What You See: More About How to Use Communication in Hiring, written by Susan M. Heathfield.

This article primarily described the significance of non-verbal communication during a job interview from the perspective of the interviewer.The article focused on non-verbal communication such as attentiveness, eye contact, facial expressions and body language. In this aricle, the author argued that a intervewer should watch the listening and interactive behavior of her candidate. The author agreed that an interviewer should hire a candidate who can comfortably put his portfolio on her desk to take notes, and who can listen to her questions and provide succinct answers. The author emphasized that facial expressions that do not match the words spoken can indicate serious discomfort or lying. The article emphasized that an interviewer should take these red flags seriously, to ensure the right person is hired for the job.

The information that this article conveyed to us was that for an interviewer, non-verbal communication is as critical as verbal communication. We recommend this article because it directly pointed out what types of non-verbal communication are warning signals to an interviewer.We believe it would be benificial for people to know these interview killers in order to avoid them, to get the career they are hoping to obtain. So, give the article a read and please try to avoid the non-verbal cues that convey unprofessionalism.

Citation
Believe What You See: More About How to Use Communication in Hiring, written by Susan M. Heathfield, posted on About.com. Accessed on Feb. 13, 2013.

Picture provided by:  judynyokabi.wordpress.com titled What are you trying to say?: Communication is More than Words.


Interaction
Imagine you are an interviewer, please choose your favourable interviewee:

1. Which candidate would you hire?
     (a) who is staring at you during the whole interview
     (b) who never makes eye contact and look to a spot over your shoulder
     (c) who makes comfortable eye contact

2. Which candidate would you hire?
     (a) who taps his pen constantly
     (b) who stokes his hair every few minute
     (c) who focuses on the conversation

3. Which candidate would you hire?
     (a) who takes over your whole desk with his arms and accessories
     (b) who can comfortably put his porfolio on your desk and take notes without take too much of your space
   

    

The Power of Non- Verbal Communication

This video highlights every annoying non-verbal cue that can hinder your performance when doing a presentation.

Although the video is funny the issues highlighted are real such as nervous habits such as slouching, foot tapping and hand cletching. Carson Thaxton and Brian Boyleor the communications coaches even cover chewing gum, wearing loud clothing, and our personal favourite presenting when you have an annoying coughing; Tiffany knows alot of about that given her coughing fits. But, in all seriousness, the video is about putting the best you forward by avoiding doing things that will make you look unprofessional, and unprepared such as having too much paperwork in front of you when you are speaking.The emphasis is on ensuring that you remember the annoying fillers you may use such as long pauses, uhmmms or eventhough it was not mentioned, likes. Understanding these bad habits can lead to changing them, which in turn will make you look professional in meetings, interviews and in daily interactions with work colleagues.

We personally liked this video the most for its exaggerations of things that we have seen and done ourselves, which hindered ours and other people's presentations. Personally we have both had to adapt techniques to deal with these non- verbal communication issues for example practising a speech or presentation a few times to alleviate nervousness all together helps. We are sure that someone standing in front of you using fillers, fidgetting or looking unprepared can be a bit distracting. So even if you are interested in what they are saying, you focus more on whatever is distracting you and miss out on the meat of their presentation. That is why it is important to be aware of non verbal cues, and hone these skills especially when doing a presention. Practice in front of the mirror, with a friend or family member and be aware of the little things you do when you are nervous, it makes all the difference also to avoid wearing distarcting clothing try on what you are planning on wearing and get feedback. hope enjoyed the video we look forward to you comments.

 

Citation

ChuvaTV takes a deeper yet comical look at the power of non-verbal communication. 00:03:56 added on 15/07/2010 located at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuUEIxm4Q-s.
Accessed February 13th, 2013.

Interaction
Please answer the following questions.

1. What makes you nervous about presentations?

 

2. What nervous habits do you have?

 

3. How do you preventyour nervous habits from interferring with your presentation?

 

 

 

Reading the Body Language in International Negotiations

The article that we read was about the fact that in "...international negotiations, what you say is sometimes less important than your body language or facial expressions..." (Azad et al, 2011)

The article was centered around looking at the non-verbal cues of East Asian students from Mainland China and Canadian born students. The article covered the various non-verbal cues that can seem positive; however, in actuality they are negitive. The conclusion of the study was that in Eastern Asia when they sit up straight, like the way Canadians would to assert dominance, this was a sign of submissiveness. However, in a situation where negative views are being conveyed non-verbally, in the case of the Chinese participants they leaned back; which in Canada is a sign of relaxation. In a situation of discontent the East Asian participants also maintained eye contact; a non-verbal cue which in Canada is linked with positive emotions and affectionate engagement. The article outlined that in a business situations these non-verbal cues can be misinterpretated and it could hinder business negotiations, which stigmatizes the success of international business negotiations.

We agree with the point that the article is making, as we stated in our first blog it is important to understand non-verbal cues for the purposes of maintining diversity. If we are going to do business internationally, it would make sense for businessmen and women to do research on foreign mannerisms, so they are able to convey their point effectively and are able to understand the non-verbal cues during an international business meeting. We also think that the research on body language that are postive or negative needs to be expanded, because the article mentioned that reasearch on this topic is limited to what western societies view as positive or negative non- verbal communication. As we stated in our firts bog diversity in a company is very important, made even more so by the fact that comanies wish to globalize and if research helps with process, then we believe that it is in the best interest of Canadian companies to embrace internationally different verbal and non-verbal communication, which would make their companies more diverse.

Citation
Zhaleh, S. A. and Wendi, L. A (June 2011) Nonverbal Cues Associated with Negotiation “Styles” Across Cultures.  Presented at the 2011 International Association for Conflict Management Conference, Istanbul, organized by the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. Referenced February 13th, 2013 at http://www.strategy-business.com/article/re00159?pg=all.

Picture provided by:  www.skillsconverged.com titled Reading Body Language Non- Verbal Communication.

Interaction
Please think about the following questions.

What do you think does body language make a difference? Why or why not?



Non-Verbal Communication During Job Interview Part I: How to Use Nonverbal Communication to Impress

We would like to introduce the article The Interview Advantage: How to Use Nonverbal
Communication to Impress which is written by Alison Doyle.

This article contained two parts the first part is written by Alison Doyle the second part is called Believe What You See: More About How to Use Communication in Hiring which was written by Susan M. Heathfield. In this blog we will be discussing the first part of the article which covers the importance of non-verbal communication. It advocated that it is extremely important for the interviewees to present their non-verbal communication skills before, during or after the job interview. The second part delt with the details of the nonverbal communication for a job interview. Alison Doyle the author of The Interview Advantage: How to Use Nonverbal Communication to Impress used this article to list what to bring to an interview; such as portfolio or pad holder with a copy of resume, and work samples. Alison Doyle also listed what not to bring to an interview such as iPod, gum. Alison Doyle encouraged interviewees to make proper eye contact with the interviewer, smile, nod and other positive nonverbal communication. Alison also warned the interviewees about certain negative non-verbal communication, for instance leaning back, interrupting, letting one's arms fly around the room when one is trying to making a point.

We agree with the Alison Doyle's opinion that proper non-verbal communication during a job interview can help the interviewees impress the interviewers. Although we are already familiar with some ideas Alison mentioned in her article, there are still some suggestions that we have never heard before and appreciate them very much; for example, we did not know bringing soda or coffee to an interview as being a negative signal to our potential employers. Although, Alison Doyle's article was extremely helpful there were suggestions we disagreed with for example, Alison Doyle suggests not brining your cell phone to an interview however, in reality, it is very unlikely for people to their cellphone or smartphone at home, or in the car if they drive to the interview. Also, for some people going out without their cellphone can trigger anxiety. So we think it would be more realistic to suggest interviewees to shut off their cellphone during an interview other than not taking it with them.

In all. we valued the suggestions given by Alison Doyle in The Interview Advantage: How to Use Nonverbal Communication to Impress. We believe that it will be helpful for people to utilize the skills mentioned by Alison during an job interview to present their best possible self in an interview.

Citation
The Interview Advantage: How to Use Nonverbal Communication to Impress, written by Alison Doyle, posted on About.com.

Picture provided by:  flowingwithchange.com titled What are you Really Saying?

Interaction
Please choose Yes or No to the following questions:

1. Would you bring gums for a job interview?                                                   
    A.Yes        B.No

2. Would you bring soda or coffee for a job interview?
    A.Yes        B.No                        

3. Would you laugh before the interviewer does it first?                                    
    A.Yes        B.No

4. Would you listen to the interviewer carefully without interrupting her? 
    A.Yes        B.No

5. Would you lean back during a job intervew?                                         
    A.Yes        B.No