The following is from my personal blog, but I think our readers here could benefit from a reminder about how what you don’t actually say in a conversation can help or hurt you.  One of the goals of whatever-weather.com is to help meteorologists find jobs, and this information can be useful in a job interview.

Non-verbal communication speaks volumes to most people.  There are some who do not see or know how to read the cues that we send non-verbally, but body language is usually not lost on a perceptive person.

There are two ways to use non-verbal communication.  First, as the people doing the communicating we send non-verbal cues to reinforce what we are saying, show that we are not being serious, or show our comfort level.  Second, as the receivers, we use our senses to read a person beyond just hearing what he/she is saying with his/her actual words.

Non-verbal cues with negative connotations include rolling your eyes, drumming your fingers, deep sighs, crossing your arms, directing your body away from someone, fidgeting, biting your nails, yawning, and frowning.  These signal frustration, boredom, anger, lack of interest, nervousness, and, in the case of crossing your arms, cutting yourself off from the conversation.  It is important to be aware when you are sending these signals.  Do the meanings behind them help or hurt your ability to communicate effectively?

Non-verbal cues with positive connotations include smiling, open or relaxed arms, good posture, keeping your eyes focused on the speaker, gently clasping your hands in your lap, and even wearing clothing appropriate to the situation.  These show interest in the conversation, confidence in yourself, and, in the case of clothing, a respect for the speaker and the venue.  The latter is very important when considering something like a job interview, for example.

Another way to use non-verbal communication is to mimic a person’s stance.  For example, if the person is sitting across the table from you, arms folded on the table and leaning in toward you, and you sit in the same position, then you can get a feeling for that person’s mood.  This puts to use a form of empathy, which is the ability to feel what another person is feeling.   This tactic is especially helpful in customer service situations and interactions with patients in the medical field.  Other professionals who consciously use non-verbal communication to their advantage would be people in the human resources field, politicians, waitresses, sales people, counselors, police and other investigators just to name a few.

Understanding the unspoken cues that we send and receive can go a long way in insuring better interpersonal communication.  Next time, you are in a heated discussion with someone, try to be aware of not only what it being spoken, but also what is being shown.  You might be amazed how much of the conversation literally “goes without saying.”

With the recent addition of our video series “What’s your weather job?” we are continuing to improve the website and refocusing on our goal of sharing information about meteorology related topics.  Since our free job board is the heart of the website, educating weather professionals, students, and the general public about the many meteorological career options is a natural addition to the company’s goals.

I must repeat myself with a word of thanks to you, our users, and to the companies who have posted jobs on the job board.  Whatever-Weather.com cannot continue to grow without your support.  I’d also like to ask once more that you help us spread the word about our easy-to-use job board and our new video series.  If you are a meteorologist who is lucky enough to be employed in the current economy, please tell your employer/HR department about us.  Posting on the board costs nothing and only requires a valid email address and a detailed job description.  (Note: we weed out potential scams that make their way onto other larger job boards).  Additionally, if you’d like to volunteer to write a blog or be interviewed for “What’s your weather job?” please contact us.

Stay tuned for more videos featuring meteorologists explaining their work and forecasting the future of the field!