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Non-verbal cues – the importance and examples

Nonverbal cues, also known as body language, can be just as important as verbal communication in an interview. They can convey a candidate’s confidence, interest, and attitude toward the position and the company. Non-verbal cues can also provide additional context for the interviewer to better understand the candidate’s responses.

Some examples of critical non-verbal cues to be aware of in an interview include:

• Eye contact: Maintaining good eye contact can indicate confidence and interest in the position. Avoiding eye contact may indicate a lack of confidence or dishonesty.
• Posture: Sitting up straight and leaning forward can indicate engagement and interest while slouching can indicate disinterest or lack of energy.
• Facial expressions: Smiling can indicate friendliness and a positive attitude, while a lack of expression or a frown can indicate disinterest or negativity.
• Hand gestures: Using gestures can indicate engagement and enthusiasm while keeping hands still can indicate nervousness or lack of confidence.
• Fidgeting: Fidgeting can indicate nervousness or lack of confidence while maintaining stillness can indicate a calm and collected demeanor.

It’s worth noting that non-verbal cues can vary depending on the culture and background of the candidate, so it’s important to keep that in mind when evaluating them. It’s important for the interviewer to be aware of these cues and interpret them in the context of the whole interview process, including the verbal responses.