Needle, Meet Haystack

Let’s do the twist!

Okay, we’re not going to actually do the twist.  You see, today we’re focusing on something that a few different experts have called the “Belly Button Rule,” but since I don’t know if that term is copywritten, I figured I’d save it for the actual post.

Anyway, this rule is simple: you point (twist) your torso (belly button*) towards things and people that you like, and away from things that you don’t like.

But how does this simple rule apply to job stuff?

Good question, hypothetical audience member!  Basically, you want to make sure that your belly button, and the bellybutton(s) of your interviewer(s) are on the same wavelength.  This way, they know that you’re interested in the job, and you know that they’re interested in what you have to say.  HOWEVER:

• If your belly button is pushed forward (not due to the size of your belly, but by projecting it out), that’s a sign of interest in a more…physical manner.  Try to avoid it.
• If your belly button is pushed back (once again due to your posture or position, not belly size), that’s a sign of a lack of sincere interest.  Avoid this one too.

So what you want to do is keep your posture correct, relax your bellybutton so it isn’t over- or under-pronounced, and go about your interview/meeting/work day normally.  And remember, it’s not polite to be a navel-gazer, so don’t stare at someone else’s torso to figure out where it’s pointing.

* For an explanation of why there are no poctires of belly buttons, take a look at the image search results for the term.  Creepy…

Staring.  We’ve all done it, and people have done it to us.  Sometimes it’s because of something embarrassing, sometimes it’s because of attraction, and sometimes it’s just due to boredom.  But when you’re on an interview, you should never stare, even when you’re making eye contact.

Body language experts say that a proper amount of eye contact is 60% of the time.  But how can you judge this?  I usually keep eye contact for a few sentences, then let them drift somewhere nearby, to a picture on the wall, an item on a desk, or what have you.  In other words:

INTERVIEWER: So, why do you think you are right for this position?

INTERVIEWEE (Make eye contact as you begin): Well, from my blah blah blah while blah blah blah with blah blah blah and blah blah blah…

…and in conclusion, blah blah blah is why I would be a great asset to your company in this position.  (Keep eye contact for a second or two after this is over, then look away a bit)

The key here is that if you are looking away while talking, it gives off a signal that even you don’t believe what you’re saying, or at least are not interested in it.  And keeping your eyes on them for a couple of extra seconds is like a good bit of punctuation on your statement.  Please try to avoid the bug-eyes or hard stares though.

When looking at someone’s face, there’s a certain area you should look at.  Do you know where that is?

Not the forehead – that’s like you’re looking down at them.

Not the lips – that’s a signal of sexual interest (unless this is a date or something – then go for it!).

It’s the triangle made from the far corners of the eyebrows to the bottom of the nose.  Pow.  That’s your target zone.  Stick with that area and you won’t seem too pompous or unnecessarily flirty.

So remember: no staring for more than 60% of the time, and stick with the triangle, and you’ll be looking at a job offer in no time!

You have to be ready for any questions you might get during an interview.  And while many of them can vary depending on the job, company and interviewer, there are a good number of questions that persist regardless of where you are and who you may be talking with.

Here’s a list of 50 of them, as well as some hints and suggestions on how to answer.  Please keep in mind that I do not endorse all of the advice on responses, but the list itself is worth reading.

50 Common Interview Q&A

So, I went for an interview today.  For a job.

Wait, I got an interview?  So I sort-of know what I’m talking about sometimes?

Yep.  And it went well, too!

So what did I do that helped things go well?

Besides pulling off what I thought was a decent handshake, I kept rapport with the interviewer, stayed on topic, used some stories and previous experiences to help support why the firm should hire me, and asked questions when the interview concluded.

I know that we’ve only covered one of those in any detail, but over the next few weeks, I’ll go over these topics with you.  But there’s one thing that I always do (and did today) that probably helped.

I talked with the receptionist.

If you want to get a good feel for the workplace environment, how smoothly things are run, and the type of people you’ll be working with, talk to the person at the front desk.  After all, the company has chosen this person to be the first representative that you see when you walk in the door.  And as they usually deal with a good number of other people in the office, seeing how they act around your potential co-workers and boss(es) is a great way to get a sense of the office culture.

You can talk about anything, though sticking with small talk and pleasant (and neutral) topics can help.  You don’t want to share details of last weekend’s debauchery, or that rash you’ve been getting on your armpit (unless you’re going to be working in the nightlife or dermatology industries), but rather things like music, the career field, something you’ve noticed about the office, and so on.

This also helps in three other ways: 1) your interviewer will see that you’re a social, pleasant person when they come to meet you (judging by how your conversation with the receptionist is going); 2) the receptionist may be the one filing your file, and would be more inclined to make sure it doesn’t go into the “put off unless we’re REALLY desperate for help” files; and 3) you can make a new friend!

“Say, Andrew, didn’t you spend some time working for a body language expert?”

Why yes, hypothetical audience member who has spent way too much time stalking me on the Internet, I DID!  And so begins a new feature, “Body Language Basics,” where we will discuss some simple things you can do to kill it at your next interview, networking event, job fair or other employment-(or life-)related event!

So the handshake is simple, right?  Grab, shake, done.  Well, no.  If that was it, I wouldn’t be posting about it.

Basically, you need to be cautious of three things: pressure, angle, and time.  Here’s how to tell:

Pressure: Ever shook hands with someone and it went limp?  Or they gripped onto you and squoze so hard you thought your hand was going to fall off?  Both are bad – the limp one shows weakness, the crusher shows overconfidence and aggressive tendencies.  So what do you do?

If it’s a new boss, be a little weaker, but not too much.  It shows that you’re not gunning for their spot in the company (yet).  If it’s with a new subordinate, a tiny bit of extra pressure is fine.  And if it’s with a hiring manager, a firm grasp (think of the ideal handshake pressure – that’s usually just right) works great.

Angle: I hate when someone puts their hand in from an over-the-top angle like in an old movie where you then kiss the hand or something.  Don’t be that person!  Similarly, the angle on a good connection (thumbs cross over, hands form an almost “x” shape) can be a problem.

If you tilt your hand too much inwards (since you should be using your right hand, unless you don’t have one, I will skip more imagery here) it’s another sign of aggression.  Palm-out and away tilting gestures show that you’re ready to be someone’s bitch.  Unless it’s with someone who you want to show a sign of deference to (and even then, barely tilt outwards), never change the position from a straight-on angle.

Time: Don’t let the handshake go on forever, or cut off too quick!  A quick three pumps or so (one up-down move is a pump) should do it.   And move your hand away from theirs cleanly; don’t just drop your hand or let your fingers linger on theirs.  Both of those are just creepy.

So now that you know how to shake hands the right way, you’ll always be able to make a great first impression!

Provided your hands are washed, that is.