When it comes to interviews, your facial expressions can be as revealing as your words. Microexpressions—those tiny, involuntary facial movements—are powerful indicators of your true emotions. These subtle cues can speak volumes, influencing how your interview questions and answers are perceived by the interviewer.
In this blog, we’ll explore what microexpressions are, how they affect your performance in interviews, and how you can control them to make a stronger impression.
Microexpressions are brief, involuntary facial expressions that reflect a person’s genuine emotions, often occurring in less than a second. Whether or not you're aware of them, these expressions reveal underlying feelings such as:
Happiness
Sadness
Anger
Fear
Disgust
Surprise
Contempt
Since microexpressions happen so quickly, they can be difficult to detect, but they play a crucial role in shaping how your interviewer interprets your responses. Even if your verbal answers are well-prepared, your facial expressions can either confirm your confidence or suggest hidden insecurity.
Interviewers may not consciously analyze microexpressions, but they often react to them on a subconscious level. These fleeting facial cues can affect how interviewers judge your credibility, confidence, and emotional state. Here’s why paying attention to microexpressions matters in interviews:
They reveal your true feelings: Whether you’re aware of it or not, your face may betray feelings of nervousness, excitement, or even doubt.
They influence trust: Interviewers are more likely to trust your responses when your facial expressions align with your words. Conversely, a mismatch between the two can raise red flags.
They create subconscious judgments: Even when interviewers can’t pinpoint what’s off, inconsistent microexpressions can lead them to form negative impressions.
Microexpressions can either strengthen or undermine your interview questions and answers depending on how they align with your spoken responses.
Positive Microexpressions
When your microexpressions match your verbal answers, they can boost your credibility:
Smiling when discussing a positive achievement: Genuine joy can enhance the impression of enthusiasm and passion for the role.
Thoughtful expressions when responding to complex questions: A subtle look of reflection can show that you’re carefully considering your answer, rather than offering something pre-rehearsed.
When you use your facial expressions to reinforce your answers, you appear more genuine and emotionally intelligent, increasing your appeal as a candidate.
Negative Microexpressions
However, mismatched expressions can hurt your credibility:
Nervousness or anxiety: If you say you’re confident but your face shows fear, the interviewer may doubt your self-assurance.
Disgust or contempt: Even a fleeting grimace when discussing a past job or boss can suggest that you haven’t fully resolved negative feelings, making you seem less professional.
Such contradictions between your words and facial expressions may lead to skepticism about your honesty or emotional stability.
While you can’t completely suppress microexpressions, you can become more aware of them and reduce their negative impact. Here are some tips to manage your facial expressions during interviews:
1. Practice Self-Awareness
One of the first steps in managing microexpressions is increasing your self-awareness. Record yourself answering common interview questions and answers to see how your face responds to different types of questions. This will help you identify which emotions are sneaking through when you’d rather they didn’t.
2. Prepare for Emotional Questions
Some interview questions are likely to stir up strong emotions—whether they’re about past failures, challenging work environments, or difficult team dynamics. Preparing your answers to these questions in advance can help reduce negative microexpressions. Frame these experiences positively, focusing on what you learned or how you grew.
3. Maintain Calm Through Breathing
Anxiety often shows up in facial expressions. By taking deep, controlled breaths, you can help regulate your emotions and calm your expressions. Controlled breathing also slows your heart rate, which helps you stay composed during tough questions.
4. Adopt a Neutral Face When Necessary
You don’t have to be expressive all the time. In fact, a neutral, calm face can help when you’re thinking or processing a question. Keep your face relaxed, occasionally nodding to show that you’re listening. This neutral expression can prevent any unintended negative emotions from showing up.
5. Emphasize Positive Emotions
Instead of trying to suppress negative microexpressions, focus on cultivating positive ones. If you’re genuinely excited about the role or the conversation, let it show through a smile or animated facial expressions. Channeling positive energy can often diminish any signs of nervousness or uncertainty.
Being mindful of your own microexpressions is important, but paying attention to the interviewer’s subtle facial cues can also give you valuable insights. Their microexpressions can reveal whether they are impressed, skeptical, or intrigued by your responses:
Surprise or interest: If the interviewer’s eyebrows raise slightly or they smile at an unexpected answer, you may have caught their attention in a positive way. Take this as an opportunity to elaborate.
Doubt or skepticism: A flash of doubt in their expression might indicate they’re not fully convinced by your answer. You can adjust by providing more detail or clarifying your point.
Observing and responding to these microexpressions can help you build rapport and adjust your approach in real-time.
To make microexpressions work for you in an interview, here are some practical tips for managing your facial communication:
Use genuine expressions to show enthusiasm: Whether you’re discussing a past achievement or explaining why you’re excited about the role, let your emotions come through naturally. A warm smile or raised eyebrows can make your enthusiasm more believable.
Stay calm during difficult questions: When faced with tough or unexpected questions, control your facial expressions by focusing on your breathing and keeping a neutral expression. This shows emotional intelligence and helps prevent microexpressions from revealing anxiety or uncertainty.
Mirror positive cues from the interviewer: If the interviewer seems engaged or responds positively to your answers, reciprocate with a smile or nod. This creates a sense of connection and reinforces positive feelings.
Microexpressions are a powerful form of nonverbal communication that can greatly influence how your interview questions and answers are received. By understanding how these small expressions shape perceptions, you can better control the signals you send and align your facial expressions with your verbal responses.
Managing microexpressions takes practice, but the benefits are well worth the effort. Not only will you present yourself as more composed and confident, but you’ll also improve your ability to read the interviewer’s reactions, allowing you to tailor your responses on the fly.
Incorporating control over microexpressions into your interview preparation can make a lasting positive impression and help ensure your interview performance stands out.