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You nailed the phone interview. Your dress is contemporary, your personal grooming meticulous. You’ve rehearsed your accomplishment stories and they’re concise, use simple language and address your target company’s needs.

But have you considered the message you’re sending while you’re not talking, but listening as your interviewer talks?

Check your listening mode expression.

Patsy Cisneros, AICI CIP, Executive Image Consultant at Corporate Icon stresses the importance of checking your facial expression when you’re not talking during an interview…

Do you draw conclusions about what someone thinks of you based on their facial expressions while you’re talking?

Our body language conveys our reactions and creates powerful impressions in the person who’s speaking.

Consider that a sizeable portion of the brain is dedicated to interpreting the significance of facial expressions of those important to us, like Mommy or a future boss.

We all experience a visceral response based on how we believe others are perceiving us. We feel good when those we’re talking to seem to like us. We experience fear or anger when our interpretation of their expressions tells us that they don’t like us, or that they’re not interested in what we’re saying.

Consider Patsy’s advice and take a look at your listening expression in the mirror. Are you conveying interest? Are you open and receptive, smiling and affirming?

Experiment – (Definitely try this at home without adult supervision!) –

Stand in front of the mirror and try some different expressions: your interested face, friendly face, bored face, skeptical face, “You’ve got to be kidding!” face.

OK, now you’re warmed up. Now look away from the mirror and make your “best listener” face.

Got it? All right then, turn back to the mirror and check how you feel looking at that “best listener” expression.

Did you nail it? Do you look way too happy? Do you look overly concerned?

It’s a lot harder to predict what your expression looks like without being able to check yourself in the mirror!

You’ve probably determined there may be a big difference between how your face feels and what emotions it’s actually expressing.

This is why movie directors shoot multiple takes of “reactions shots.”

The trick is to find a “Good Listener” expression that you like. Memorize what your face feels like in front of the mirror. Then, make that same face away from the mirror.

Got it? OK, check yourself in the mirror. Make adjustments as needed and repeat the process until you feel confident in your ability to convey your desired impression.

Most of us aren’t going to be actors on film or TV, but developing this awareness will help us during an interview to remember what our “Good Listener” expression feels like.

This gives us confidence that our body language is conveying the intended impression to the interviewer. Now your outsides match your insides and you look like a Good Listener.

Patsy Cisneros, AICI CIP and Corporate Icon executive development specializes in training individuals and business groups to project the quality of their knowledge and skills – and to project the quality of their products and services – through their dress, speech and behavior. © 2006-2010, Corporate Icon® LLC

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