Body Language and the Job Interview

The job market has tightened, the economy is down and you've got to find a job, now. You have a job interview coming up and you need every possible advantage to win that job. What do you do?

Recent studies have shown that employers will form an opinion of you within the first 10 minutes of the interview.

But here's the kicker: It's not always based on what you actually say, but on something we term "body language." For instance, 85 percent of what you communicate is not with words. It's through the tone of your voice, the way you sit and a wealth of other messages that your body involuntarily sends. This is according to Greg Hartley, a body language expert who earned his chops with 20 years as an interrogator in the Army.

With this in mind, here are six dos and don'ts on the art of non-verbal communication to give you a winning advantage in a job interview.

1. Be real from the start

When you greet your interviewer, smile a real smile that engages your eyes, and offer a firm handshake. Say something like, "I'm pleased to meet you" to provide a positive anchor.

Janine Driver, a body language expert also known on the Internet as the "Lyin' Tamer," states that maintaining good eye contact shows respect and interest. She advises that in the U.S., 60% eye contact is ideal. She suggests focusing on the upper triangle of the face from the left eyebrow across the bridge of the nose to the right eyebrow. Avoid staring at the other person's forehead, lips and mouth.

2. Watch the excess energy

The more energy you have, the more will need to be vented. This often results in mannerisms Hartley terms "adapters." What this means is that excess energy gets dissipated into fidgeting, a definite sign that you're nervous or ill at ease. While it's easy to say, "Watch the fidgeting," Driver suggests you never touch your face, throat, mouth or ears during an interview. The interviewer may think that you're holding something back, typically, the truth. Although this is a false assumption, to try to establish credibility, it's necessary to avoid touching your face.

3. What to do with those hands and arms

Driver says that clasped hands are a signal that you are closed off. A palm-to-palm gesture with one thumb over the other thumb sends the signal that you need the interviewer's reassurance.

To come across as confident, receptive and unguarded, have your hands open and relaxed on the table. When your body is open, you project trustworthiness.

Avoid crossing your arms over your chest. When you do, you signal that you are close-minded, defensive or bored and disinterested.

4. Crossing those legs

Don't cross your legs. According to Driver, this posture creates a wall between you and your interviewer. It can also become a distraction when you keep crossing your legs back and forth. Crossed ankles are a "no-no" because you are signaling that you want to be elsewhere.

5. Posture

A straight posture is imperative during an interview. Pull your shoulders back and sit up straight. You'll give yourself a burst of confidence and allow for good breathing. This can help you to avoid, or at least reduce, feelings of nervousness and discomfort.

6. Finger gestures

Bet you never thought you had to worry about your fingers during an interview. Driver suggests that steepling your fingers makes you look arrogant. She also says to never point your index fingers like gun barrels. These are the types of aggressive messages you want to avoid sending.

As a recruiter, Joe Turner has spent the past 15 years finding and placing top candidates in some of the best jobs of their careers. Author of "Job Search Secrets Unlocked" and "Paycheck 911," Turner has interviewed on radio talk shows and offers free insider job search secrets at: http://www.jobchangesecrets.com/.

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IT Job: ASP.NET Developer

Wonderful opportunity to make a difference at a growing firm!

ASP.NET Developer

Dynamic, growing, 10-year-old web development firm in Old Town Alexandria is looking to add an experienced, mature, highly motivated, communicative ASP.NET developer to its web development team. This new position will primarily consist of hands-on development in ASP.NET, with the opportunity to assist the Technical Lead in all phases of software development lifecycle for the right candidate. Growth into Project Lead, Team Lead, or Project Management is a possibility/opportunity though not a requirement.

We are looking for someone who can work successfully in a team-oriented environment, and who has top quality self-management skills and an ability to consistently hit deadlines. This person will be able to follow all defined specifications to an exceptional degree of accuracy. Candidate must also have a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or another related technical discipline.

Clients include many associations and non-profits as well as commercial clients. Project work includes custom application development as well as third-party product integration.

Required Technical Skills:
• 3+ years experience in developing web based applications in ASP.NET using C#
. 1+ year of experience with ColdFusion development
• 4+ years experience with SQL, MSSQL, MySQL
• Understanding of framework methodologies and application design concepts
• Experience with Fusebox framework
• JavaScript
• CSS
• XML, XSD, XSLT
• Understanding of OOP techniques
• Understanding of Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
• Understanding of version control concepts within application development
• Understanding of effective UI development
• Ability to learn, interact, and share within a team environment
. Experience developing in PHP a plus but not a requirement

Key Responsibilities include:
• Application design, development, integration, deployment, documentation, and maintenance;
• Resolving technical difficulties as warranted;
• Ability to complete projects within timelines in a high productivity environment;
• Ability to thoroughly test and quality control all work before delivery to internal teams

About Us

Located in Old Town Alexandria
. Parking
. 401(K) Plan Matching
. Fast-paced, fun and team-oriented atmosphere
. CareFirst health insurance plan with dental and vision options
. Long term disability insurance
. Diverse clients bring new projects, new challenges, new skills to the team

***Please email your resume and contact information to kramer.keller@rht.com if you or anyone you know would be interested in the role(s) below, for immediate consideration.***

NASA Internship Opportunity

The NASA Student Internship Project, or SIP, is designed for students whose primary interest is in space-related research. SIP is an intensive, 10-week, summer research project for diverse undergraduate and graduate students interested in careers in aerospace-related fields. SIP brings students from universities to Goddard Space Flight Center to support ongoing research projects, generally by participating in a project that has received an award from the Director's Discretionary Fund. These funds are allocated competitively to GSFC's most innovative researchers. Students team with a Principal Investigator, or P.I., at GSFC for cutting-edge research in science or engineering. The students may have the opportunity to participate in field trips to other NASA centers, as well as to local space industry sites. Students with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation services.

Requirements:
All applicants must meet the following criteria:
• Must be a Junior, Senior, or Graduate Student
• Majoring in Engineering, Science, Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics, or any related aerospace program
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident
• Minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale

How to Apply:
Please submit a cover letter and resume to Christopher Binns, Southeast Regional Program Career Counselor, via email at cbinns@tmcfund.org.

Deadline:
November 19, 2008 – 5 PM EST

Contacts:
Please contact Christopher Binns if you have any questions via telephone at (404) 520 – 6298, or via email at Cbinns@tmcfund.org.

IT Jobs: Java & .NET Developers

Available Positions
4 Positions available in McLean, VA – Seeking Mid-Level and Junior Java and .Net Developers. The descriptions below are broard, so please feel free to submit your resume. Also, you must be able to obtain a public trust. We just placed 2 people with this organization!

Brief Description
We are currently looking for a C#/.NET/SQL developer with a computer science degree and 3-5 years of programming experience. This is position is client focused and requires strong communication skills and attention to detail. Prior experience working on external applications and gathering requirements is a strong plus. The key will be a person with common sense and clarity in their coding.

Qualifications:
Bachelors Degree in Computer Science or Related Field of Study, 0-2 years experience developing Business Applications using Java 1.5 and Java EE 5, Experience or knowledge of supporting user acceptance testing and software testing, Experience with Swing strongly desired, Demonstrate capability to learn new technologies quickly, Experience in writing system documents such as use case design documents, Experience in JBoss and/or WebSphere, Hibernate, Experience in JMS and JMX a plus, Experience in databases, Oracle/DB2/MySQL/MSSQL, Developing experience with Windows and/or UNIX, Experience working with XML, Experience with knowledge of life-cycle process for software development, Clear and effective communication capabilities - both oral and written Ability to work effectively, independently and collaboratively within a team environment.

***Please email your resume and contact information to kramer.keller@rht.com if you or anyone you know would be interested in the role(s) below, for immediate consideration.***