Body language is important in an interview, it determines the atmosphere of interview. There are different types of body language, open body language and closed body language.
Open body is what we should be trying to achieve in an interview, this would include sitting in a position facing each other, mirroring and eye contact is a good way of showing that your interested in what they're saying. Closed body language is the opposite, they will look uninterested have they're arms folded and wont make as much eye contact.
Open
Open body language is a must, you do this by mirroring and engaging with the interviewee, using eye contact and looking interested and curious in what they are talking about this will make the interviewee comfortable to talk and they will open up more and tell you more about themselves. Nodding is a good way of showing interest.
Strengths
- The interviewee feels a lot more comfortable to talk to you , they will open more and this will encourage more detailed answer
- The interview might get too comfortable and start going off topic and talking about something else
In this interview we see Tyra interviewing Beyoncé and Tyra demonstrating open body language, she's making eye contact and she facing Beyoncé, Tyra is nodding and showing interest in what Beyoncé is saying. Tyra is also making conversation with Beyoncé talking about how much she loves cheese, also about her mothers grey hair and how Beyoncé wants the same style when she gets older. this type of conversing makes the interviewee feel very comfortable and makes it easier to get an honest answer.
Closed body language isn't good, when the interviewee has closed body language it can cause the atmosphere of the interview to plummet. The interviewee may become uninterested in the interview and give blunt answers, closed body language are things like folded arms, not making eye contact, and not engaging with interviewee, if the interviewer is the one showing bad body language then this may cause the interviewee to feel uncomfortable and disrespected.
Strengths
- The interviewee will pay more attention and it may cause them to answer the questions correctly.
- It may cause the interviewee to feel uncomfortable and you may come off as arrogant and rude. this will lead to less detailed answers and unsuccessful interview.
In this interview the model /singer Grace Jones feels left out by the interviewer Russell Harty. When he turns his back to her he showed closed body language, he make eye contact with her and he shut her out of the conversation which understandably Grace doesn't like. She didn't feel that she was getting enough attention from the interviewer. What Russell should have done is have the two guest sit next to each other and he interview them both, because turning your back 0n someone is quite rude and it doesn't build good rapport. also because he ahs turned his back to her when he wants to ask her some questions she's going to be reluctant to answer because she won feel comfortable.
Building Rapport
Building rapport is really good for an interview, if you do this it means the interview will go well, building basically means establishing a connection with each other, not being rude or belligerent but nice, friendly and approachable. To continue the good rapport you have to show signs of open body language (making eye contact and facing each other) not closed (folded arms, looking uninterested), and demonstrating active listening (nodding and responding to what they are saying.)
Open and closed body language is explained well. Examples need to be much more detailed though. What precisely is it that your point is proving. Include screen grabs and detail exactly what body language is being shown, how does this affect the interview and the response from the interviewee.
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