Body language mistakes can seriously hurt your chances of landing a job. These nonverbal cues indicate a lack of interest and show disrespect. If you want to get ahead in the professional world you need to master the subtle art of body language.
Body language is a form of communication whether you know it or not. Unless your hyper aware of your body, you can easily send the wrong message to whoever youre speaking to. Body language can include posture, movements, facial expressions, eye contact, etc. Are you aware of what your body is saying for you? Most people dont even know theyre making any body language mistakes until its too late.
Why Body Language Is Important
Every job interviewer and professional will be tuned into your body language, so you need to be on top of your game. Did you know that The brain picks up nonverbal cues in a fifth of a second, much faster than verbal ones (Inc.com)? From the instance you meet someone body language comes into play. Often your body language makes a first impression before you can even say anything!
CareerBuilder.com writes that Around half of employers (51 percent) know within the first five minutes of an interview if a candidate is a good fit for a position. Thats not a lot of time to say anything, but its plenty of time for your body language to make a statement and an impact. So dont let your body make any mistakes for you.
CareerBuilder.com made a list of the biggest body language mistakes that job seekers make during an interview. Here is their list:
1.Failing to make eye contact: 67 percent
2.Failing to smile: 39 percent
3.Playing with something on the table: 34 percent
4.Fidgeting too much in their seats: 32 percent
5.Crossing their arms over their chests: 32 percent
6.Having bad posture: 31 percent
7.Playing with their hair or touching their faces: 28 percent
8.Having a weak handshake: 22 percent
9.Using too many hand gestures: 13 percent
10.Having a handshake that was too strong: 9 percent
Have you made any of these body language mistakes? Most likely you have. Whether youre in a job interview, at a networking event, or in an office meeting, body language plays a major role in your overall success. Be mindful of what your body is saying. Its easy to make body language mistakes and thats one of the fastest ways to fail in the job search.