Career and Life Planning Guidebook for Medical Residents

Body Language and Non-Verbal Communication Tips (5) The most important year in a physician’s financial life is the first year out of training, and the most important advice this chapter can give you is contained in just a fewwords. Make eye contact with the interviewer for a few seconds at a time. Smile and nod (at appropriate times) when the interviewer is talking, but don’t overdo it. Don’t laugh unless the interviewer does first. Be polite and keep an even tone to your speech. Don’t be too loud or too quiet. Don’t slouch. Do relax and lean forward a little towards the interviewer so you appear interested and engaged. Don’t lean back. You will look too casual and relaxed, or disengaged and uninterested. Keep your feet on the floor and your back against the lower back of the chair. Pay close attention to the interviewer. Take notes if you are worried you will not remember something. Listen. Don’t interrupt. Stay calm. Even if you had a bad experience at a previous position or were fired, keep your emotions to yourself and do not show anger or frown. Not sure what to do with your hands? Hold a pen and your notepad or rest an arm on the chair or on your lap, so you look comfortable. Don’t let your arms fly around the roomwhen you’re making a point. The Interview 249 WWW.PHYSICIANCAREERPLANNING.COM