What springs to mind when you think about preparing for a veterinary interview? Often it may be planning how you might answer a particular question, or thinking about the questions you might ask to make sure a particular vet job is right for you. While honing your veterinary interview skills in this way is time well spent, there is more to communication than just giving the ‘right’ answers. To maximise your chances of success in securing your ideal vet job, it is well worth giving some thought to your non-verbal communication too.
How important is non-verbal communication in a veterinary interview?….it’s not just what you say
Between 60 and 90 percent of communication is non-verbal. In other words what you do is just as important as what you say. Non-verbal communication includes your body language, posture, facial expressions, how you dress, and what is known as paralanguage – factors like the speed and intonation of your voice.
The veterinary profession is one where interpreting non-verbal communication is essential and as a vet or vet nurse you will almost certainly be able to think of a number of occasions when picking up on a patient’s non-verbal cues has saved you from a warning nip or speedy paw swipe. Interpreting a pet owner’s non-verbal communication is also important for good clinical outcomes, compliance, client satisfaction and more.
But how about your own non-verbal cues? There is no magic formula for success, partly because non-verbal communication is so closely tied up with our emotions. This means we tend to have less control over it than the words that we use, especially in an interview situation.
Here are our top five ways to improve your veterinary interview skills and hone your non-verbal communication, maximising your chances of securing the veterinary job that you aspire to.
1. First impressions count
As the saying goes, ‘you don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression’. In the first seven seconds of meeting, people will form as many as 11 opinions about you, from level of education and financial situation, to trustworthiness and professional competence. There are also studies that suggest that a prospective employer may make a decision about you in the first four minutes of an interview.1,2
In the veterinary profession, first impressions really do count. As a veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse, communicating with clients is an integral part of your working life, and an interview as an opportunity for a future employer to see how you may come across.
Evidence also suggests that once that first impression is formed it can be difficult to change, even when presented with evidence to the contrary. So walk in confidently, firm handshake at the ready and remember to…
2. Make eye contact
Good eye contact is one of the most important forms of non-verbal communication. It helps convey confidence, empathy and honesty, as well as showing interest and attentiveness. Too much or too little can be negative though, so what is the ‘right’ amount?
There are no hard and fast rules but make sure you start an interview with eye contact and look away every five to ten seconds to avoid ‘staring’ or coming across as intimidating.
3. Embrace your inner super hero
Have you heard about the Wonder Woman pose? It is not as ridiculous as it sounds. Embracing your inner super hero by adopting the Wonder Woman pose for as little as two minutes has been shown to reduce cortisol levels and increase testosterone, and studies suggest that it may enhance job interview performance.3
This one is best reserved for your pre interview preparation of course, so legs shoulder-width apart, hands on hips, expand your chest, and you are ready to go!
4. Smiling is infectious
Did you know, it takes conscious effort to frown when looking at someone smiling? Smiling really is infectious. Not only that – smiling conveys openness and increases trust, while a blank facial expression may make you seem distant and unapproachable. When you are anxious, it can be easy to forget to smile, but smiling naturally throughout the interview will help to increase feelings of positivity.
5. Mirror to build rapport
One of the most effective ways to build rapport in an interview, veterinary or otherwise is to mirror your interviewer’s body language, tone of voice and even certain key words that they use. When someone mirrors your behaviour, the same areas of your brain activate as those that are active when you feel good4, and studies have shown that mirroring can increase the chances of a successful outcome.
A lot of mirroring happens naturally, without conscious thought – crossing your legs because the person you are talking to crossed theirs for example, or leaning back in your chair to match their body language. Mirroring someone intentionally has to be subtle of course, and it is best to only mirror for a short time to avoid mimicking.
Veterinary interviews may not be as formal as in some other professions, but it is still important to get things right – with veterinary recruitment and retention top of the agenda, a prospective employer will want to make sure that they are recruiting the best person for the vet job. As well as setting you on the path to success, thinking about your non-verbal communication for an interview will also help create a set of skills that you can use in any situation.
Let JHP Recruitment help you find the role that us right for you, by starting your job-hunting journey here.
References
1. Ambady, N. and Rosenthal, R. (1992) Thin slices of expressive behavior as predictors of interpersonal consequences: a meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin. Vol 111, No 2. pp256–274
2. Barrick, M.R., et al. (2012) Candidate characteristics driving initial impressions during rapport building: implications for employment interview validity. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology. Vol 85, No 2. pp330–352.
3. Cuddy, A.J.C., et al. (2012) The benefit of power posing before a highstakes social evaluation [online]. Working Paper No 13-027. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School
4. Pease, A. (2017) The definitive book of body language: How to read others’ attitudes by their gestures. London: Orion.
