Body Language, Interview and Group Discussion (GD) : A Term Paper On
Body Language, Interview and Group Discussion (GD) : A Term Paper On
Body Language, Interview and Group Discussion (GD) : A Term Paper On
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Dont play with your hands or fiddle with your hair, this can be distracting and show nerves
and lack of confidence.
Try not to create defensive barriers between you and the interviewer such as crossed arms,
legs or a bag on your lap, you want to look open and honest
Maintain eye contact but dont stare so that it is uncomfortable. Remember if there are more
than two interviewers to shift your glance between both of them
Nodding and making Miming noises will show you are listening
Try to be natural and try to relax, nerves may make you defensive
Some tips for noticing your own body language
Body posture: this should be interested and relaxed, sit up straight with your back against
your chair; this will prevent you from sitting on the edge of your chair and appearing tense or
nervous. When asked a question by an interviewer, turn shoulders towards them, lean forward
slightly and tilt you head slightly. The copycat technique is said to be the most effective
technique of reading body language. If you adopt the same position as the interviewer, this
shows positive body language. Even better, if the interviewer adopts the same position as
you, this is regarded as positive.
Hands: hands can be difficult to place in an interview and can indicate feelings without
meaning too. Clenched hands can indicate that you are nervous and can appear defensive.
You can use hand gestures to your advantage, to demonstrate a point. However, do not use
them too much at the start as they can distract from what you are saying. Add them slowly
throughout the interview as you gain more confidence.
Dynamic movements: Dynamic movements can support what you are saying or give a
positive view of you in an interview. For example, nodding you head can support words,
questions and initiate more conversation by appearing agreeable. It is important to take your
cues from the interviewer, if the interviewer uses hands then you use your hands, but if they
keep their hands to themselves then it is best to keep your hand movements to a minimum.
Nervous gestures or habits: these need to be minimized or got rid of before an interview,
tapping feet, clicking of a pen, fidgeting with hair do not portray positive body signals to your
potential employer.
Your body language can indicate a lot about you without you being conscious of it. Observe
how you sit, gesture and converse with others in everyday situations and then you may be
able to recognize what signals you are sending out to potential employers.
Observe others and see if you can read into what they are feeling from their body language.
This is a good exercise as it gives you a different perspective on yourself and others.
Dont overly worry about appearing too nervous, most employers appreciate that interviews
can be daunting experiences. Concentrate on appearing alert, open and attentive. This will
boost your chance of making a good impression on an employer.
other person or trying to dominate the conversation. Listening to someone while not making
eye contact indicates that you are not really paying attention, but are waiting for your chance
to speak. This gives your friend the feeling that you dont really care about them and what
they have to say and may cause them not to listen carefully to you when it is your turn to
speak in the conversation.
Studies show that 70% of our communication is achieved nonverbally and that it is far more
accurate than are the words we use. Therefore, it is imperative that we learn to use and
discern body language more effectively in order to become an effective communicator. By
understanding body language more effectively, we can decrease our chances of being
misunderstood, causing conflicts and increase our chances of being able to spot a liar,
maintain our friendships, hire and be hired. For many more reasons body language and
communication skills in general will help each of us immeasurably in our professional and
personal life.
Facial expressions
The human face is extremely expressive, able to express countless emotions without saying a
word. And unlike some forms of nonverbal communication, facial expressions are universal.
The facial expressions for happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, fear, and disgust are the same
across cultures.
Gestures
Gestures are woven into the fabric of our daily lives. We wave, point, beckon, and use our
hands when were arguing or speaking animatedlyexpressing ourselves with gestures often
without thinking. However, the meaning of gestures can be very different across cultures and
regions, so its important to be careful to avoid misinterpretation.
Eye contact
Since the visual sense is dominant for most people, eye contact is an especially important
type of nonverbal communication. The way you look at someone can communicate many
things, including interest, affection, hostility, or attraction. Eye contact is also important in
maintaining the flow of conversation and for gauging the other persons response.
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