9-1 Body Language Self-Assessment

PART 1: Review the descriptions of nonverbal behaviors and voice qualities and check the box for each item that describes your body language habits. You also can do this Career Action Worksheet with a partner.

Definitions:

Assertive body language is relaxed, open, and confident. It supports your words and conveys competence, self-assurance, caring, and credibility.

Passive body language looks nonenergetic and diminishes your credibility by conveying insecurity, weakness, anxiety, and a lack of self-assurance and competence.

Aggressive body language appears brash and overbearing and sends offensive messages that convey hostility, pushiness, intimidation, and a domineering attitude.

Review your answers and highlight your aggressive or passive habits. In Part 2, list the habits you think are most important to change. Finally, take action to correct these habits and ask others to remind you when you exhibit them.

POSTURE

Comfortably upright Assertive

Relaxed, balanced Assertive

Open, not constricted Assertive

Overly stiff Aggressive

Arms/legs crossed Aggressive

Overbearing, intimidating Aggressive

Wooden, tight Passive

Slumped shoulders Passive

Slumped back/spine Passive

HANDSHAKE

Appropriately firm Assertive

Connect between thumb and first finger Assertive

Shake from elbow through hand Assertive

Held for appropriate length of time Assertive

"Bone-crushing" grip Aggressive

Held for too long Aggressive

Limp Passive

Shake from wrist through hand Passive

Held too briefly Passive

Grasping fingers only Passive

FACIAL EXPRESSION

Open, relaxes, pleasant Assertive

Frowning Aggressive

Mooding, sulking Aggressive

Tight upper lip, pursed mouth Aggressive

Clenched jaw Aggressive

Wrinkling forehead Passive

Biting or licking lips Passive

Continual Smile Passive

EYE CONTACT

Comfortably direct Assertive

Staring off; bored expression Aggressive

Sneering, looking down nose Aggressive

Direct stare Aggressive

Constantly looking down Passive

Blinking rapidly Passive

Frequently shifting focus Passive

No eye contact; avoidance Passive

VOICE QUALITIES

Distinct and clear Assertive

Controlled but relaxed Assertive

Warm, pleasant tone Assertive

Energized; suitable emphasis Assertive

Too rapid Aggressive

Too demanding or urgent Aggressive

Too loud Aggressive

Arrogant or sarcastic Aggressive

Dull or monotone Passive

Whiny tone Passive

Too soft or too low Passive

Too nasal Passive

GESTURES

Natural, not erratic Assertive

Occasional gestures to emphasize Assertive

Occasional positive head nodding Assertive

Open hand (conveys trust) Assertive

Leaning toward speaker Assertive

Pointing finger Aggressive

Hands on hips Aggressive

Wooden gestures Passive

Tilting head to one side Passive

Bringing hand to face Passive

Nodding head too much Passive

Fidgeting Passive

DISTRACTING NONVERBAL HABITS

Drumming fingers Passive

Use of fillers (um, uh, you know) Passive

Jiggling leg/arm Passive

Fiddling with hair or glasses Passive

Fiddling with an object Passive

Rubbing beard or mustachE Passive

Biting nails Passive

Scratching Passive

PART 2: In order of importance, list the negative nonverbal habits you plan to change.

My Goals for Improving My Nonverbal Communication and Voice Qualities

1.

2.

3.

Add your completed work to the "About Me" section of your Career Builder Files

9-2 Develop Your Request for an Interview

PART 1. Read the sample request for an interview on page 233 and do a script or an out- line that would be appropriate to use when requesting an interview with your prospective job target(s). Next, determine what would be different if you were making this request by phone rather than in person.

The Opening:

The 30-Second Commercial Excerpt:

The Request:

The Close:

PART 2: Turn to your support system for assistance. Do some role-playing, following the guidelines below. Deliver your request for an interview to someone in your support system. First as if you were in person, and then by phone.

1. Critique your delivery and improve on it. It helps to record your delivery and play it back.

2. Have your helper ask you questions that require more information about your qualifications.

3. Practice responding when your helper makes excuses for not scheduling an interview. (Remember to stay cool and positive, and be courteous to the gatekeeper.)

4. Practice presenting your qualifications persuasively, using your 30-Second Commercial. 5. Practice turning objections into acceptance.

Add your completed work to the "About Jobs" section of your Career Builder Files

9-3 Stay on the Journey While You Wait

While waiting for the next interview request, continue your Job Search Journey. Use this worksheet to discover more jobs that you are qualified to do. Refer to your completed Career Action Worksheets in Part 1 to help complete the following.

1. List the benefits of working in a field related to your career field that may be an untraditional use of your talents.

2. Find and list three jobs that you are currently qualified to do that you have not previously applied for.

3. Describe your action plan for getting closer to people in your chosen career field.

4. Find and list three jobs that you are currently overqualified to do. Describe why you haven't applied for these jobs, and at what point you would apply.

Add your completed work to the "About Jobs" section of your Career Builder Files