title:body language.

Conversation text:

Host: You walk into a job interview.

Count slowly to seven. In that amount of time, you will have been evaluated and major decisions will have been made about your credibility, confidence, and competence.

I'm Carol Kinsey Goman, author of The Nonverbal Advantage:

Secrets and Science of Body Language at Work.

According to research at New York University, you've got just seven seconds to make a lasting first impression.

Obviously you won't impress anyone by what you say in seven short seconds.

In fact, it's all about what you don't say - your body language.

Here are seven powerful ways to make a positive first impression at your next job interview.

First, adjust your attitude. Don't wait until you enter the interview room to warm up.

Before you walk through the door, think about the situation and make a conscious choice about the attitude you want to embody.

Attitudes that attract people include friendly, happy, approachable, and curious.

Stand tall. Project confidence and credibility by standing up straight, pulling your shoulders back, and holding your head high.

Just by assuming this physical position, you'll begin to feel sure of yourself.

Smile. A smile is an invitation, a sign of welcome.

It says, \"I'm friendly and approachable.\" In fact, research shows that if you smile at someone, it activates the reward center in that person's brain.

Make eye contact. Looking at someone's eyes transmits energy and indicates interest and openness.

Look into the interviewer's eyes long enough to notice what color they are.

With this one simple technique, you will dramatically increase your likeability factor.

Raise your eyebrows.

Open your eyes slightly more than normal to simulate the eyebrow flash that's the universal signal of recognition and acknowledgment.

Lean in slightly. Leaning forward shows you're engaged and interested.

We naturally lean toward people and things we like or agree with. But be respectful of the other person's space.

Shake hands. This is the quickest and most effective way to establish rapport.

Research shows it takes an average of three hours of continuous interaction to develop the same level of rapport that you can get with a single handshake.

Make sure to hold the other person's hand a few seconds longer than you're naturally inclined to do.

This conveys additional sincerity.

Every interview is an opportunity to increase your skill at making a positive first impression.

You've got just seven seconds, but if you handle it well, seven seconds are all you need.