Great Performance !

When you encounter a candidate whose body language seems to communicate one thing but whose verbal responses seem to communicate something else, it’s usually best to check your
interpretations of these nonverbal cues with the candidate. Do so in a way that doesn’t cause embarrassment, but be direct. Ask the candidate if your interpretation of a certain body language is correct. (”It seems that whenever we discuss your present employment your body language appears to indicate a reluctance to discuss the matter in any detail. Is there a reason for that? Or, am I simply misinterpreting your body language?”)

Also, remember that you have no idea of the context of the interview in the life of the candidate. A number of years ago, I interviewed a young lady for a professional position for which she seemed eminently qualified. During the interview, however, she became distracted and unfocused. Her body language suggested extreme anxiety.

I attempted to confirm the message from her body language by asking whether she was feeling anxious about the interview. The young lady began to sob uncontrollably. When I inquired what was wrong, she said that a few hours beforehand, she had received a telephone call from her sister telling her of her father’s sudden death. In spite of the news, she attempted to muster up enough strength to complete the interview, but the news proved too overwhelming.

Had I relied only on the nonverbal cues presented by the candidate, I would have probably concluded that the job and the candidate were not a good match. But having inquired further, I learned that it was the context of the interview that was the problem, not the candidate. We
rescheduled our interview for another time, and the young lady was eventually hired and today manages an entire division of the same firm.

Always confirm nonverbal cues with a candidate. Body language can be prompted by many things other than the interview—or, for that matter, nothing at all.

Taken From: 10 Minute Guide to Conducting a Job Interview