How do you use body language and eye contact to convey listening and empathy?

1 The importance of listening and empathy

Listening and empathy are essential skills for any job, but especially for those that involve working with people, solving problems, or leading teams. Listening means paying attention to what the interviewer is saying, asking relevant questions, and showing that you understand their perspective. Empathy means putting yourself in their shoes, expressing genuine concern, and acknowledging their emotions. Listening and empathy can help you demonstrate your fit for the role, your interest in the company, and your ability to handle challenges.

2 How to use body language to convey listening and empathy

Your body language can be a powerful tool for communicating your attitude, mood, and engagement in the interview. To demonstrate listening and empathy, use body language that conveys openness, respect, and alignment. This can include nodding your head slightly to indicate agreement or understanding, leaning forward to show interest, mirroring the interviewer's posture or gestures to create rapport and trust, smiling warmly to show friendliness and positivity, and avoiding crossing your arms, fidgeting, or looking away. Doing so can suggest boredom, defensiveness, or nervousness.

3 How to use eye contact to convey listening and empathy

Eye contact is a critical nonverbal communication element that can influence your impression and connection with the interviewer. To show listening and empathy, maintain eye contact for about 60-70% of the time, which is the optimal level for most cultures and situations. Break eye contact briefly and naturally to avoid staring or making the interviewer uncomfortable. Look at the interviewer's eyes, forehead, or nose to convey attention and interest. Blink normally and avoid excessive or rapid blinking, which can indicate stress or dishonesty. Moreover, avoid looking down, which can suggest insecurity or submission, or looking up, which can suggest distraction or arrogance.

4 How to practice using body language and eye contact

To use body language and eye contact effectively, you need to practice and receive feedback. You can start by recording yourself answering common interview questions and paying attention to your nonverbal cues. Ask a friend, family member, or mentor to conduct a mock interview with you and give honest feedback. Practicing in front of a mirror or a webcam is also helpful in seeing how you appear and adjusting your body language and eye contact accordingly. Additionally, observing how other people use their body language and eye contact in interviews, presentations, or conversations can be a great way to learn from examples.

5 How to adapt your body language and eye contact to different situations

When it comes to body language and eye contact in interviews, there are general guidelines to follow, but you should also take into account the context and the interviewer's individual preferences. Depending on the type of interview, the interviewer's culture, personality, and mood, your nonverbal communication should be adapted. To do this effectively, observe the interviewer's nonverbal signals, ask questions to clarify their expectations, and adjust your behavior accordingly.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?