The Impact of Interviewees’ Anxious Nonverbal Behavior on Interview Performance Ratings

Abstract: Interview anxiety is correlated with lower interview performance ratings, but it is unclear why. This study examined the impact of interviewees’ anxious nonverbal behavior on interview performance ratings. Additionally, the amount of interpersonal interaction in the job and interviewee gender were examined as moderators. Participants ( N = 823) watched a video recording of an actor delivering scripted responses to interview questions. Hypotheses were tested using a between-subjects design. Participants in the high anxious nonverbal behavior condition gave lower interview performance ratings than those in the low anxious nonverbal behavior condition. Job type and interviewee gender did not moderate this relation. Thus, interviewees’ anxious nonverbal behavior may explain why interview anxiety is correlated with lower interview performance ratings.