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out experiential differences .among candidates. Nonverbal communication. The most commonly mentioned nonverbal behavior was eye contact. The tmeaMmg of eye col t= differs across cultms. In Asian and American Indian cultures, direct sustained eye contact indicates disrespect. Persons from these cultures avert their gaze to show respect for the speaker. one participant noted that IRspanics may not look the interviewers in the eye tither. In the white culture, direct eye contact is perceived as a sign of sincerity and truthfulness. Averting the gaze is often perceived in the White culture as a sign of evasiveness or lack of attention. Pardeipants noted that African Americans also use direct eye contact to show sincerity and truthfulness. one participant noted, however, that whites some- times misinterpret direct eye contact from African Americans as a sign of cockiness or even aggressiveness., Some of the Firefighters talked about the nonverbal behavior of interviewers during the interview} They noted that candidates will be searching for clues to how well they are perform - in g in the interview. To get an idea of hour well they are performing, candidates mostly have to rely on the nonverbal behaviors of the interviewers because interviewers typically do not talk d that when they went during e i rvie except to pose questions. The Firefighters recalle through the inte'rview, they tend to infer they were doing .poorly if they saw interviewers frown, lean away from them, cross their arms across their chest, or glance at each other with a smirI on their face. Several Firefighters pointed out that they were distracted when interviewers took notes during the interview because they didn't ]mow why the interviewers were doing so. Several Firefighters suggested that interviewers should use nonverbal behaviors to help put the candidates at ease. The suggestions included smiling during the interview, shaping hands with the candidate before the interview, acting interested in the candidate's responses, and nodding the head to indicate attention, They also suggested that interviewers not tae notes during the interview, or at least explain up front why they are doing so. Verbal communication. According to Focus Group participants, persons from American 49