Both liars and trustworthy people will likely look away when you ask them a difficult question, because thinking of a response requires concentration. However, people who are lying may only briefly look away, whereas people who are telling the truth may take more time to compose their answer. [5] X Research source Although eye contact isn’t the sole determiner of trustworthiness, a person who makes good eye contact is more likely to be a good communicator, and may be more comfortable feeling vulnerable. [6] X Trustworthy Source Michigan State University Extension Extension program of Michigan State University focused on community outreach, education, and engagement Go to source
Most trustworthy individuals will display open body language, with their hands at their sides and their body turned towards you. Note if the person crosses their arms, slouches or turns their body away from you when you are speaking to them. These could be signs that they are not sure of themselves and may not be as engaged and committed to you or potentially hiding something. [8] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Business Review Online and print journal covering topics related to business management practices Go to source If their body language appears tense, be wary. They might simply be nervous, but research shows that people are more physically tense when they’re lying. [9] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source People who are lying may press their lips together when you ask a sensitive question. They may play with their hair, groom their nails, or gesture toward themselves. [10] X Research source
As well, if they often cancel plans or change meeting times without letting others know, they may not value other people’s time as much as they should and may have an issue with time management. In a work setting, such behavior is not only untrustworthy, it is also unprofessional. In a casual setting, between friends, flaking out on plans can show that the person does not place value on your time and may not be someone you can count on.
For example, you may ask what they believe their greatest challenge was in their previous job or you may ask if they struggled with any skills or expectations in their previous role. The person may take some time to answer, but note if they change the subject or avoid answering the question. This may be an indication that they are hiding something about their previous job or they are not willing to engage in critical thinking about their previous role.
People who are lying are more likely to redirect the conversation back to you. [14] X Research source If you feel like you don’t really know much about the person after several conversations, or that you are disclosing more about yourself than you’re learning about the other person, this could be a warning sign.
Fewer first-person pronouns. People who are lying don’t usually use “I” pronouns as often. They may avoid taking responsibility for their behavior, try to keep a distance between themselves and their stories, or avoid sounding too invested. Negative emotion words. Research suggests that people who have truth issues are often anxious and feel guilty. This shows up in their vocabulary, which tends to involve more negative emotion words such as “hate, worthless and sad. " Fewer exclusionary words. These words, such as except, but, or nor, indicate that the person is making a distinction between what did and didn’t happen. People who are lying have more trouble with this complexity, and they don’t use these words as often. Unusual detail. People who lie may use less detail than usual when talking about something. [17] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source They also may give justification for their answers even if they haven’t been asked. [18] X Research source
Research suggests that most people tell “white lies,” especially on dating sites. These are usually minor attempts to present themselves in the best possible light, like underestimating your weight or age or overstating your height or income. People are more likely to lie when looking for a mate than in most other social situations. However, major lies aren’t that common. [22] X Research source
You should note if the person refuses to provide references once you request them or if they avoid giving you their references. Often, a trustworthy candidate will be more than willing to provide references as they are not worried about what their references are going to say about them. Be wary of candidates that give you personal references like a family member, a spouse, or a close friend. The best personal references will be a person the candidate knowns on a personal and a professional level who can speak to their character with unbiased examples.
Note if the reference says anything disparaging about the candidate or gives any information that may put the candidate’s trustworthiness in question. [25] X Research source You should reach out to the candidate and ask them about the reference’s comment so you can give the candidate a chance to explain themselves, especially if you are seriously considering hiring the candidate.
The list of the person’s previous employers, as well as their contact information, can be used to show the person has nothing to be ashamed of in terms of their employment history and are willing to have their previous employers speak with you. If you have deep reservations about a person you’ve encountered in a social setting, you can usually run private background checks online.
