Body language makes up 55% of the impression you have on somebody who does not know you. Therefore, it is important to be aware of various do's and dont's.
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HR managers are trained to pay attention to the applicant’s body language, which might disagree with their statements.
Your appearance (clothes, posture, gesture, facial expression) make up 55% of the impression you make on somebody else, your voice accounts for 38% and the statements you say for 7%. So your body language and the signals you send unconsciously are very influential when marketing yourself.
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DOs |
Body Language
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Meaning
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Glances
- straight glance
- frequent eye contact
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- attention, receptiveness, sympathy, signalizes open-mindedness
- openness, pure conscience, trust
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Facial Expression
- open smile/enthusiasm
- raising the eyebrows
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- open serenity
- underlines and reinforces what you say
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Gesture
- firm handshake without exaggerating
- hands lying open and loose on the table
- using your hands while talking, e.g. when enumerating things
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- sincerity, certainty
- self-assuredness
- openness
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Posture
- Calm and upright posture, both feet touch the ground, upper part of the body tilted slightly forward
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- self-assuredness, interest, sympathy
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Way of Talking
- clear voice, not too loud
- moderate pace
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- vitality and self-consciousness
- temperament and spirit
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DONTs
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Body Language
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Meaning
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Glances
- oblique glance
- frequently looking away
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- distance
- awkwardness and lack of sympathy
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Facial Expression
- corners of the mouth go down
- raising the eyebrows
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- bitterness, pessimism, depressive
- incredulity or arrogance
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Gesture
- exaggerated handshake
- flabby handshake
- crossed arms or hands
- touching the nose, holding hand in front of the mouth, frequent taking off of glasses, running hair out of your face, scratching your head
- fiddling around with your hand (ring, biro,…)
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- recklessness, showing off
- insecurity, easy to influence
- rejection, closeness, fear
- awkwardness, insecurity, unease
- nervousness, insecurity
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Posture
- shrugging of your shoulders
- sitting on the edge of the chair in a kind of “alarmed” position
- putting feet around chair legs
- rigid, military-like posture
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- helplessness
- lack of self-consciousness and security, suspiciousness, fear
- insecurity, looking for hold
- suppressing fear
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Way of Talking
- low, whispering voice
- fast pace
- weak accentuation
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- weakness, lack of self-consciousness
- nervousness
- indifference, lack of flexibility
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Source: Arbeitsgemeinschaft Wirtschaft und Schule (May 2007)
Body language.pdf (133.67 KB)
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