How can you use body language analysis to determine if an interviewee is a good communicator?

1 The basics of body language analysis

Body language analysis is based on the premise that nonverbal cues can reveal more than words about a person's thoughts, feelings, and intentions. According to research, body language accounts for 55% of communication, while tone of voice accounts for 38%, and words for only 7%. Therefore, by paying attention to how an interviewee moves, looks, and sounds, you can get a better sense of their personality, attitude, and suitability for the role.

2 How to analyze body language in a face-to-face interview

A face-to-face interview gives you the opportunity to observe the interviewee's body language in a natural and interactive setting. You can look for signs of positive communication, such as smiling and nodding to show interest and engagement, maintaining eye contact to demonstrate confidence and respect, using open gestures to express enthusiasm and openness, leaning forward to indicate attention and curiosity, and mirroring your body language to create rapport and alignment. Additionally, you can look for signs of negative communication like frowning and shaking the head to signify disagreement and dissatisfaction, avoiding eye contact to indicate nervousness and dishonesty, using closed gestures to display defensiveness and reluctance, leaning back to demonstrate boredom and detachment, or crossing the arms or legs to show resistance and hostility.

3 How to analyze body language in a phone interview

A phone interview does not allow you to observe body language, but you can still listen to the tone of voice and how the interviewee uses words. Signs of positive communication include speaking clearly and fluently to demonstrate competence and professionalism, modulating the voice to show emotion and expression, using pauses and fillers to show thoughtfulness and sincerity, asking questions and confirming understanding to show interest and involvement, and using positive words and phrases to show enthusiasm and optimism. On the other hand, signs of negative communication include speaking too fast or too slow to indicate nervousness or indifference, monotoning the voice to indicate boredom and apathy, interrupting or talking over you to suggest rudeness and arrogance, avoiding questions or giving vague answers to indicate evasiveness and dishonesty, and using negative words and phrases to indicate pessimism and criticism.

4 How to analyze body language in a video interview

A video interview combines the visual and auditory aspects of body language analysis, but it also poses some challenges due to the limitations of technology. You can look for signs of positive communication, such as adjusting the camera angle and lighting to show professionalism and preparedness, dressing appropriately and neatly to show respect and seriousness, looking at the camera and not the screen to show eye contact and focus, using gestures and facial expressions to show enthusiasm and expression, and speaking clearly and loudly to show confidence and clarity. Additionally, you can look for signs of negative communication, such as having a cluttered or distracting background to show carelessness and disorganization, dressing casually or sloppily to show disrespect and laziness, looking away from the camera or at other things to show distraction and disinterest, using gestures and facial expressions that are too exaggerated or too subtle to show nervousness or insincerity, or speaking too softly or too loudly to show insecurity or aggressiveness.

5 How to use body language analysis to improve your own communication

Body language analysis is not only useful for evaluating interviewees, but also for improving your own communication as an interviewer. By being aware of your own body language, you can enhance your credibility, rapport, and influence with your candidates. To do this, you should smile and nod to show warmth and encouragement, maintain eye contact to show interest and attention, use open gestures to show friendliness and openness, and lean forward to show curiosity and engagement. Additionally, mirroring the interviewee's body language can show empathy and alignment. On the other hand, it is important to avoid body language that can undermine your communication such as frowning and shaking the head to show displeasure and disapproval, avoiding eye contact to show boredom and avoidance, using closed gestures to show coldness and closeness, leaning back to show disengagement and indifference, or crossing the arms or legs to show defensiveness and opposition.

6 How to apply body language analysis in different scenarios

Body language analysis can be utilized in a variety of scenarios, depending on the purpose and context of the interview. For instance, when screening candidates for a shortlist, body language analysis can help you quickly identify those who have the most potential and interest for the role. You can look for signs of positive communication that indicate their competence, enthusiasm, and fit for the culture. Similarly, when evaluating candidates for a final decision, you can use body language analysis to deeply assess their honesty, reliability, and motivation. Finally, when negotiating with candidates for an offer, body language analysis can be used to effectively negotiate and determine their satisfaction, acceptance, and commitment for the role.

7 Here’s what else to consider

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