Chapter 9: Know the Interview Essentials

CAREER ACTION WORKSHEET

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

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Chapter 9: Know the Interview Essentials

√ 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, relaxed, pleasant Assertive

 Frowning Aggressive

 Moody, sulking Aggressive

√ Tight upper lip, pursed mouth Aggressive

√ Clenched jaw Aggressive

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© 2017 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license
distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website or school-approved learning management system for classroom use.
Chapter 9: Know the Interview Essentials

 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

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© 2017 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license
distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website or school-approved learning management system for classroom use.
Chapter 9: Know the Interview Essentials

 Too loud Assertive

 Arrogant or sarcastic Assertive

 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

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© 2017 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license
distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website or school-approved learning management system for classroom use.
Chapter 9: Know the Interview Essentials

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. Arms/legs crossed, Overbearing, intimidating, Slumped shoulders, Held for too long

2. Grasping fingers only, tight upper lip, pursed mouth, clenched jaw, blinking rapidly

3. No eye contact; avoidance, Whiny tone, Pointing finger, Tilting head to one side,
Nodding head too much, Jiggling leg/arm, Fiddling with hair or glasses, Biting nails

Add your completed work to the “About Me” section of your Career Builder Files.

Your Career: How to Make It Happen, 9e 65

© 2017 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license
distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website or school-approved learning management system for classroom use.