Successful Interviewing by Diane Arthur

Author:Diane Arthur
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: AMACOM Books
Published: 2000-04-14T16:00:00+00:00

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Analyzing body language is complicated by the fact that no single aspect of nonverbal communication can be universally translated. That is, a gesture made by one person may mean something entirely different when made by someone else. For example, just because you have a tendency to avoid making eye contact when you are hiding something does not mean that an applicant is avoiding your eyes for the same reason. It may very well be a sign that she is deep in thought. Each person develops his or her own pattern of nonverbal messages and tends to react to a particular situation in the same nonverbal way each time that it occurs. The applicant who nervously clasps his hands while waiting to be interviewed, then, is likely to do the same thing each time he is nervous. Therefore, although there are no universal interpretations to body language cues, each of us has our own nonverbal pattern that may be consistently translated if observed over a period of time.

Different cultures also tend to translate body language differently. In the United States, for example, nodding the head generally indicates an affirmative answer or understanding. In the Middle East, however, a single nod means “no.” Such differences in interpretation occur not only among cultures, but as a result of individual socialization processes. Our patterns of nonverbal expression, then, are attributable to a combination of cultural and environmental factors.

Be careful not to draw conclusions too early in the interview process, based on an interviewee’s nonverbal messages. Allow time for the individual’s patterns to emerge, and then relate these patterns to the other factors involved in making a selection.

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