Quote: "Nonverbal communication (NVC) is the transmission of messages or signals through a nonverbal platform such as eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, posture, use of objects and body language."
Understanding appropriate body language and attire is important in creating a positive impression during the interview.
Facial Expressions: Learn how to assess and interpret facial expressions, including micro-expressions, which can reveal hidden emotions.
Eye Contact: Understand the importance of eye contact in nonverbal communication, and how to use it to convey confidence and attentiveness.
Posture: Learn how to maintain good posture and body language to appear confident and engaged.
Gestures: Study common gestures and how they can convey different messages depending on the context.
Handshakes: Learn how to give an appropriate and professional handshake, which can set the tone for the entire interview.
Voice and Tone: Understand the role of voice and tone in body language and how to use them to convey different emotions and attitudes.
Clothing: Understand how clothing can impact perceptions of professionalism and how to choose appropriate interview attire.
Grooming: Learn the importance of a clean and well-groomed appearance, and how to present yourself professionally.
Cultural Differences: Understand how different cultures use body language differently and how to navigate these differences in an interview setting.
Nonverbal Communication Analysis: Learn how to read and evaluate nonverbal cues to interpret what is being said beyond words.
Body Language in Negotiation: Understand how body language can be leveraged in negotiations to gain an advantage.
Mirroring: Understand the concept of mirroring and how it can be used to build rapport and trust in an interview or negotiation context.
Misinterpretation: Learn how common body language misinterpretations can lead to misunderstandings and how to avoid them.
Eye Contact: The use of eye contact to establish trust and confidence is vital. Maintaining eye contact demonstrates attentiveness, respect, and sincerity.
Posture: Sitting or standing up straight and upright posture is a sign of confidence and professionalism, indicating that you are ready to listen and engage in the conversation.
Gestures: Appropriate hand gestures create a friendly and enthusiastic atmosphere, whereas clumsy or excessive movement conveys nervousness or insecurity.
Facial Expressions: Smiling and conveying positive facial expressions, such as nodding, reflects interest and understanding while signaling engagement.
Personal Space: Respectful physical distance and body orientation can send the right signals for a professional conversation.
Formal Business Attire: Includes a suit, tie, dress shoes or high heels, and conservative colors. Appropriate for conservative industries or high-level corporate or client-facing roles.
Business Casual Attire: Consists of a collared shirt or blouse, dress pants or casual skirt, and comfortable shoes. Appropriate for less conservative industries or less formal business settings.
Creative Attire: Combines comfortable and casual clothing mixed with unique or sophisticated accessories. Ideal for artistic or advertising roles.
Smart Casual Attire: A chic and laidback style that incorporates casual and glam pieces to create an elegant and fashionable look. Suitable for upscale or trendy industries.
Casual Attire: The most relaxed dress code. It allows jeans, t-shirts, sneakers, and other comfortable clothing. It may be convenient for IT, media, or creative roles or when visiting casual office environments.
Quote: "It includes the use of social cues, kinesics, distance (proxemics) and physical environments/appearance, of voice (paralanguage) and of touch (haptics)."
Quote: "A signal has three different parts to it, including the basic signal, what the signal is trying to convey, and how it is interpreted."
Quote: "These signals that are transmitted to the receiver depend highly on the knowledge and empathy that this individual has."
Quote: "The study of nonverbal communication started in 1872 with the publication of The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals by Charles Darwin."
Quote: "Darwin began to study nonverbal communication as he noticed the interactions between animals such as lions, tigers, dogs etc. and realized they also communicated by gestures and expressions."
Quote: "Today, scholars argue that nonverbal communication can convey more meaning than verbal communication."
Quote: "Ray Birdwhistell concludes that nonverbal communication accounts for 60–70 percent of human communication."
Quote: "Just as speech contains nonverbal elements known as paralanguage, as well as prosodic features, so written texts have nonverbal elements such as handwriting style, spatial arrangement of words, or the physical layout of a page."
Quote: "much of the study of nonverbal communication has focused on interaction between individuals, where it can be classified into three principal areas: environmental conditions where communication takes place, physical characteristics of the communicators, and behaviors of communicators during interaction."
Quote: "Nonverbal communication involves the conscious and unconscious processes of encoding and decoding."
Quote: "Encoding is defined as our ability to express emotions in a way that can be accurately interpreted by the receiver(s)."
Quote: "Decoding is called 'nonverbal sensitivity', defined as the ability to take this encoded emotion and interpret its meanings accurately to what the sender intended."
Quote: "For example, in the picture above, the encoder holds up two fingers, and the decoder may know from previous experience that this means two."
Quote: "Both of these skills can vary from person to person, with some people being better than others at one or both."
Quote: "women are found to be better decoders than men since they are more observant of nonverbal cues, as well as more likely to use them."
Quote: "Culture plays an important role in nonverbal communication, and it is one aspect that helps to influence how learning activities are organized."
Quote: "In many Indigenous American communities, for example, there is often an emphasis on nonverbal communication, which acts as a valued means by which children learn."
Quote: "Within cultures around the world there are extreme differences and similarities between a lot of nonverbal gestures or signals."
Quote: "In this sense, learning is not dependent on verbal communication; rather, it is nonverbal communication which serves as a primary means of not only organizing interpersonal interactions but also conveying cultural values, and children learn how to participate in this system from a young age."