Companies that are in the middle of filling open jobs want to complete the process fairly quickly so everyone already on the payroll can continue to perform their required duties. Sometimes, a company will cut corners to fill an open position and miss nonverbal cues of job candidates during a job interview. Not all candidates can be trusted, which is why we will discuss the nonverbal cues to pay attention to during interviews here.
Tone of Voice
One of the first things you need to watch for is the candidate’s tone of voice. This can be a little tricky because you don’t know if the their tone is changing during an interview because they are genuinely nervous or because they are trying to hide something about their past. A candidate’s tone of voice can be a trigger for other nonverbal cues such as their posture, their facial expressions and their gestures.
The Walk Around Test
An excellent way to measure a candidate’s body language or nonverbal cues is to engage him or her in the walk around test through the office. Give the candidate a tour of the facility and watch for some different cues. Take note of how quickly they smiled when meeting someone new, if they asked questions of the people they met, if they made eye contact and much more. You can even gauge the idea of them getting along with their co-workers should they be hired for the open job when doing the walk around test.
Appearance is Important Too
We are all told that appearance should not be important in life, but when it comes to acquiring a job, it is very important. If a candidate shows up to a job interview at your company in ripped pants, a stained shirt and an unshaven face, you likely will not hire that person. You would not want that person representing your company to clients and customers because it sends a bad message. Check the appearance of your candidate. Did he or she wear business attire? Did the candidate shave for the interview? Everyone makes snap judgments based on other people’s appearance. It can be a major factor in a job interview.
Lies, Lies, Lies
It is incredibly easy to spot someone who is telling a lie or a fabricated story when you are talking with them in-person. It is more difficult to accomplish this during a phone interview. Nonverbal cues such as twitching, hands shaking, sweating and fidgeting can tip an interviewer to the fact that the candidate might be telling a fib or hiding something from their past.
Take a long look at nonverbal cues presented by your job candidates during an interview to figure out if he or she is being truthful and trustworthy.