Job Interviewing Tutorial for Teen Job-Seekers: Nonverbals

Job Interviewing Tutorial for High School Students,
Teen and Entry-Level Job-Seekers

#5: Nail your nonverbals in the interview.

What are nonverbals?

Some people refer to these as body language -- things you are communicating to the interviewer with your body.

Nonverbals start with the handshake. When you go to greet the interviewer, extend your hand and give a firm -- but non bone-crushing handshake. Avoid the limp fish and sweaty palms handshake.

When asked to take a seat, keep your posture straight and alert. Try leaning forward a bit -- which shows that you are interested in discussing the job.

Make solid eye contact with the interviewer. If there happens to be more than one interviewer, make eye contact with all of them, but focus on the person who asked the question. If you are a bit creeped out from making too much eye contact, use the trick of looking at the bridge of the person's nose -- that way you are not looking into their eyes, but it appears as though you are.

Some hand gestures are good -- helping you demonstrate your points -- but keep hand gestures small and smooth. If you talk a lot with your hands, you might consider holding a pen or work on keeping your hands your lap.

Learn more in about nonverbals our article, The Unspoken Secrets of Job Interviewing: How Your Nonverbal Presentation and Behaviors Impact the Impression You Make.

Continue to the next page to learn about avoiding some BAD nonverbal behaviors.

Go to Job Interviewing Tutorial for Teens and Entry-Level Job-Seekers Home Page
Go to Job Interviewing Tutorial for Teens and Entry-Level Job-Seekers Site Map

Have you checked out the rest of the great free career and job-related tutorials offered on Quintessential Careers?

Maximize your career and job-search knowledge and skills! Take advantage of The Quintessential Careers Content Index, which enables site visitors to locate articles, tutorials, quizzes, and worksheets in 35 career, college, job-search topic areas.

Find a New Job

What:
Where:
jobs by

Job-Hunting Tools:

Career Tools:

Career Categories:

Job Interviewing Tutorial for High School Students, Teen and Entry-Level Job-Seekers