Which form of communication do you think is more powerful: verbal or non-verbal?  Of course the "what" you say is very important in an interview, but many people are not aware just how important the "way" you say something is.  Non-verbal communication may be described in many ways, such as your behavior, your manners, your attitude, your etiquette, etc.  However you say it, using the right non-verbal communication is key to having a successful job interview.

Let's look at it this way -- your resume and cover letter represent the facts about you.  You will be judged objectively based on your qualifications, skills, education, experience, and so on.  Your interview will give the employer a "feeling" about you.  You will be judged more subjectively based on your manners, looks, behavior, attitudes, personality, fit to corporate culture, and the like.  Of course, interviews claim to be unbiased and many professionals try to be objective in these meetings.  However, humans are humans and the process of judging another human will always involve a certain degree of subjectivity.

The defense against this subjective analysis is then a proactive offense.  Prepare yourself and give them the "feeling" you want to give them.  In this article, you will find some tips on how to give the right non-verbal communication to an American interviewer to help you land that job.

1) Dress.  If you don't know how to dress for the interview, then you didn't do your homework.  You should know what the corporate culture is like at this company.  In the interviewer's mind, a saleswoman or a software engineer has a certain "look" and "behavior".  You need to know that look and behavior and add a +1 to it.  Dress a little more formally than the average person in that position for the interview.  This way, you will not be too overdressed, or much worse, not too underdressed for the job.

2) The First Meeting.  Meeting your interviewers for the first time is going to leave your host with a very strong and immediate feeling about you.  From the very first glance and handshake, your interviewer will be "sizing you up".  Keep in mind that even though they are professionals as well, they may also be feeling a bit of nervousness and anxiety -- it's natural for humans.  Put them at ease!  Take it upon yourself to make THEM feel comfortable.  The most important thing you can do during this first contact is to offer a big, warm, sincere smile, and let them know that you are relaxed and excited to meet such interesting people.   

3) Introductions.  Of course, address them formally with title and last name (family name) when you first meet.  They will probably invite you to call them by their first name.  If they do, then do it.  Make sure you drop the Mr., Ms., or Mrs. from the first name.  It sounds very strange (impossible) to Americans to use a title with a first name (i.e. Mr. John - yuck!).  Offer an easy to remember nickname for them to call you.  This is key!  If you don't have a familiar sounding name, or they can't pronounce it, then how can they easily remember you?  Give them something easy to remember. 

4) The Handshake.  For Americans, this is going to give one of the most powerful and lasting impressions of you.  If a man and a woman are meeting, the man should wait for the woman to offer her hand.  The handshake should be palm to palm (not a fingertip handshake), and the grip should not be too firm, but not too weak.  Just imagine you are squeezing juice from a lemon.  If you squeeze too hard, then it will make a mess.  If you squeeze too soft, then you won't get any juice.  Squeeze the person's hand to show you are confident and solid.  Hold the grip for 2-3 seconds and look them in the eye with a smile.  Show them that you sincerely are happy to meet them and are interested in who they are and what they are doing in the company.  Do this well and the rest is easy.

5) Taking a Seat.  Don't sit until invited to do so.  Notice how you are asked to sit.  If there is a desk or table, are you asked to sit across the desk from the interviewer (desk in the middle) or next to the desk?  Where you sit in relation to the interviewer and desk says a lot about the roles of the participants.  A more conservative, traditional interviewer who wants to show his position and power will sit behind a desk and will have you sit in front of the desk.  A more equal relationship, partner, or modern employer will sit with you, next to you, or have you sit beside the desk.  The key here is to adjust your attitude and behavior to the interviewer's behavior.  If the interview is more traditional, then use more titles, deference, use of "sir" or "ma'am", and be a very attentive listener.  If the interviewer is more modern and equal in behavior, then show that you can be more relaxed, more cheerful and humorous, more friendly and outgoing.  Be casual and be yourself.

6) Your Things.  Put your things next to you on the floor.  Be careful about putting briefcases or bags on their desk, especially if it is the interviewer's desk.  If it is a general purpose meeting table, then this is more acceptable.  But don't allow anything to block your view of the interviewer (or interviewers).  Coats, jackets, hats, etc., should never be placed on the table, but they may be placed on your chair.  Have writing instruments and notebook appropriate to the position.  All of these things are a part of your image and presentation and must be chosen carefully.  Someone who wants to present himself as a professional Marketing Manager should not be taking notes with a "Hello Kitty" notepad.  Present yourself!  A presentation requires some performance.  Play the part and act the part, and you may get the part!

7) "Would you like a cup of coffee?"  Yes, that would be nice, thank you.  Many interviewers will offer you something to drink.  Let them be hospitable and if they are trying to be a good host, help them.  Show a big smile and show how much you appreciate their kindness.  They will feel good that they have done something nice for you.  Reward them with your happiness and they may want to do more good things for you later (like give you a job).

8) Power Lunch?  Some professional interviews are even conducted over lunch.  These informal events are popular among executives and managers in America and can be very casual in appearance.  However, they are still interviews and they still have the goal of assessing your character and personality.  So, what do you choose from the menu?  Well, since they brought you to the restaurant, follow their lead.  Ask them what they recommend.  If you should choose for yourself, the rule is not to order the cheapest item (it makes you look cheap) and not the most expensive item (it makes you look greedy).

9) Gesturing. Using your hands in a positive way during the interview shows that you are dynamic and passionate about what you are saying.  Be careful of some negative signals that gesturing can give though.  For instance, holding the hands up in a praying position with fingertips together while listening can give the impression that you are over-confident.  Also, be aware of repetitive behaviors that can draw too much attention, such as hair twirling, scratching, touching your face too much, playing with your ear, etc.  These behaviors can show under-confidence.

10) Eye Contact.  A very interesting study recently compared interviewees who gave extensive eye contact with those who gave less eye contact.  People viewing the interviews on video tape were asked to rate the candidates on the basis of behavior alone.  Those who held more eye contact with the interviewers were judged to be more sincere, trustworthy, professional, interested, and confident.  They were the ones who were to get the jobs.  The point to learn from this study is to "look them in the eye".

11) Interviewer Stands.  When the interviewer stands up, that means the interview is over.  Thank them for the opportunity to come in and discuss the job.  When offered a handshake, hold for just a second longer and give them a strong and sincere closing sentence to remember you by such as, "Thank you so much for your time today.  You've got a great company here and I'd sure love to be a part of it!"  Leave them with a sense of your commitment and character, and leave them with a smile.

12) Thank You Letter.  A few days after the interview, make sure to send your interviewer a letter expressing your enthusiasm and positive impressions of the company.  Also include a summary of why you would be perfect for the job.  Bring up any details or points that you felt went particularly well at the interview.  An email or a fax is acceptable, however, it should be kept short.  Invite a call back and make certain you are available when they do call.  If they don't call, if you don't get the job, then keep your chin up and get ready to start the process again.  If you didn't get the job, then it probably wasn't a good fit anyway.  But, if all works well -- congratulations, and welcome to the company!

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