Failing to make eye contact or smile biggest body language mistakes in interviews: Survey
One-half (51 per cent) of employers know within the first five minutes of an interview whether a candidate is a good fit for a position. By minute 15, that number reaches 89 per cent, according to a survey from CareerBuilder.ca of more than 400 hiring and human resource managers.
When asked to identify the biggest body language mistakes job seekers make, hiring managers named the following:
1. Failing to make eye contact: 72 per cent
2. Failing to smile: 44 per cent
3. Playing with something on the table: 38 per cent
4. Fidgeting too much in their seats: 38 per cent
5. Crossing their arms over their chests: 37 per cent
6. Displaying bad posture: 34 per cent
7. Playing with their hair or touching their face: 26 per cent
8. Having a weak handshake: 19 per cent
9. Using too many hand gestures: 9 per cent
10. Having a handshake that is too strong: 8 per cent
"There's a reason most employers require in-person job interviews before making a hiring decision," said Mark Bania, managing director of CareerBuilder Canada. "They are looking for the non-verbal cues that indicate a candidate's level of professionalism and fit for the position. This is why body language is so important, as it can often say as much about a candidate's attitude than his or her words."
