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Body Language Influences Hiring Decisions

By Dennis McCafferty on 2010-08-12


The body language of interviewees can have a major influence on hiring decisions. Hiring managers are interested in something other than your resume and what you have to say -- the way you project “body talk,” including your posture, hand-waving and other non-verbal language, can make a far greater difference than many job-seekers may realize. According to a new survey from CareerBuilder, a significant percentage of hiring managers say job candidates often significantly hurt their chances with their gestures and physical presence. “In a highly competitive job market, job seekers need to set themselves apart in the interview stage,” said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder. “All that pressure, though, may have some job seekers making body language mistakes that don’t convey a confident message.” Fortunately, CareerBuilder has some easy tips to help you avoid sending out bad-body vibes. More than 2,500 hiring managers took part in the survey. Here’s what they had to share:
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67 percent of hiring managers say that a lack of eye contact on the part of an interviewee would make them less likely to hire someone.

38 percent of hiring managers say a lack of a smile significantly hurts a job candidate’s chances of getting the job.

33 percent of hiring managers say too much fidgeting on the part of an applicant would make them less likely to hire that person.

33 percent of hiring managers say bad posture on the part of a job candidate is a major red flag.

26 percent of hiring managers say a weak handshake is a major turn-off for a job seeker.

21 percent of hiring managers say playing with hair and/or touching a face during an interview makes for a negative impression.

9 percent of hiring managers say that “helicopter arms” – making too many hand gestures – hurts a job seeker’s chances of getting placed.

Hint: Practice calming tricks before the interview such as deep breathing to reduce your anxiety level.

Hint: Have friends, family conduct mock interviews with you beforehand and have them give feedback on your body language.

Hint: Practice in front of a mirror to reveal body-language flaws you never knew you had.

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