06 Capture HR’s Micro-Expressions to Respond Strategically #

Hello, I’m your interview course teacher, Yang Yukun. Welcome to the content of Lesson 06: “Capturing HR Micro Expressions and Developing Response Strategies.”

During the interview process, how can you determine if the information you are presenting is of interest to the interviewer? How can you better showcase your expertise at the right time? Similarly, how can you stop at the right time and smoothly transition to another topic when the timing is not appropriate? At this time, it is necessary to accurately capture the micro expressions of the interviewer in order to highlight yourself at the right time.

Small Details to Pay Attention to in Communication #

Have you ever experienced this dilemma: when describing your project experience, you are suddenly interrupted by the interviewer. Although you are in the middle of your explanation, please stop immediately. The interviewer’s interruption indicates that they are familiar with the experience you just described, or they have their own judgment about the explanation you just gave. Therefore, you should think about whether there are any loopholes in your previous description. If you have the opportunity, it is recommended to explain it again.

Sometimes interviewers repeat similar types of questions, indicating that they have doubts about your previous answers. By repeating the question, they hope to confirm the authenticity of the matter again. At this time, you need to give different answers or select key points to answer. If you are not aware of this, you may miss this opportunity.

Sometimes interviewers ask in-depth questions about a specific project experience, constantly refining the project’s data that you have worked on. You must be vigilant at this time because the interviewer is very interested in this experience of yours and needs to ask detailed questions in order to understand the extent of your actual participation and the role you played in this project. If your answer is not detailed enough or the data you provide is not precise enough, it is easy to be misunderstood as not having been involved in the core content of the project.

Micro Expressions to Pay Attention to During Interviews #

Observing micro expressions on the face can reveal a lot of information, which can help determine if the interviewer is really interested in what you are saying. Let’s talk about several common micro expressions during the interview process.

• When you see the interviewer’s lower lip pouting forward, it indicates that they have a skeptical attitude towards the information they have received. At this time, you need to change perspectives or approaches to present your points.
• When you see the interviewer biting their lips, it indicates that they are carefully listening to your introduction and silently considering the underlying meaning of what you said.
• When you see the interviewer adjust their sitting posture, such as leaning forward, it likely means they are very interested in what you are talking about. If you notice the interviewer gradually leaning back, it indicates they are probably not interested in your introduction. At this time, you should adjust your approach promptly.
• When you notice the interviewer crossing their arms, it is a defensive behavior. It is likely that what you are saying completely contradicts their understanding, and it shows that the interviewer completely disagrees with your viewpoint or didn’t understand what you meant.

The above briefly describes some situations you may encounter during an interview. I hope that in future interviews, you can capture the micro expressions of the interviewer in a timely manner and develop appropriate response strategies.

In fact, many times, interviewers are also capturing your facial expressions. When you are explaining, the interviewer is listening for any loopholes. Perhaps an inadvertent action or sentence might make the interviewer realize your weak points, leading them to make different decisions. Therefore, it is also necessary to manage your micro expressions well. Let’s talk about some unintentional mistakes made during interviews.

Bad Habits to Change During Interviews #

Sometimes, habits during communication can reveal certain issues, such as:

• When one often uses verbal fillers like “ah”, “uh”, “this”, “that”, “umm”, etc., it generally gives others the impression of having a limited vocabulary or slow thinking. It suggests that the person needs breaks in their speech to think.
• Using a mix of Chinese and English in communication can easily give the impression of being overly boastful, trying to show off or flaunt one’s abilities.
• If verbal fillers are used too frequently, it can give the impression of being unskilled and lacking determination in handling tasks.

Of course, factors like the volume of one’s voice and the speed of speech can also allow interviewers to make preliminary judgments about a person’s personality.

• The volume of one’s voice is closely related to their personality. People who like to speak loudly tend to be self-centered, proactive, assertive, and have a strong desire for control. They are generally aggressive individuals. On the other hand, people with soft voices are more introverted, consider various factors, and tend to suppress their emotions.
• Similar to the volume of one’s voice, speech speed is also related to one’s personality. Typically, individuals who speak quickly are more extroverted, energetic, and have a lot of drive. However, they often give off an impression of nervousness and pressure, causing others to feel anxious, chaotic, or even rude. In contrast, individuals who speak slowly tend to come across as reserved, hesitant, and sometimes exhibit pessimistic thoughts.

Therefore, it is important to adjust one’s speech style based on the job one is engaged in or the position one is applying for in order to gain favor from interviewers. For example, if you have a soft voice and speak slowly, it is unlikely that a company will extend an offer for a sales position, as they may find it difficult to perceive your sales potential from your communication.

Pay Attention to the Gestures in an Interview #

Many individuals may not pay attention to some small gestures they make during an interview, but these gestures may actually lower the impression that interviewers have of them. Here are a few common gestures to be aware of, hoping that it can be helpful to you.

• Sticking out the tongue: When feeling stressed, the tongue involuntarily licks the lips or appears to do so, which is a form of self-comforting. If you make this gesture during an interview, it indicates that you feel embarrassed and want to relieve the tension.
• Covering the mouth with hands: This gesture usually indicates that you realize you made a mistake with something you just said, and subconsciously cover your mouth.
• Crossing fingers: This gesture likely indicates confidence, but it can also be a way to conceal nervousness. If your fingers unconsciously cross each other and your eyes dodge the interviewer’s gaze, it is likely that you fear the interviewer will notice your nervousness.
• Touching the neck: This gesture indicates a lack of confidence, or it may mean that you are releasing stress. It is a strong signal that the brain is actively processing negative emotions.
• Avoiding eye contact: Many candidates often look around and avoid eye contact with the interviewer during an interview, giving the impression of guilt.

Of course, there are also other little gestures, such as rubbing the nose, scratching the head or ear, crossing legs or fidgeting, frequently adjusting glasses, playing with small objects, biting nails, etc. All of these gestures imply nervousness or a lack of confidence.

I hope that through this lesson, you can effectively control your microexpressions and present yourself better during interviews.