How to Effectively Use Your Body Language in Interviews

karlmontgomery • February 5, 2019

Firstly congratulations! Your CV and covering letter have secured you the interview you wanted. Now it’s time to impress in person. Appearance counts during interviews — not only how you dress, but also how you carry yourself from when you arrive to when you leave. Even if your responses are flawless, the wrong body language can send the wrong signal.

Body language is extremely important. Your body language can have a significant impact on how you’re perceived, and so you have to be aware of it from the moment you step through the door. That’s right, you’re being judged even before you’ve uttered your first word.

We have compiled a number of helpful tips to help you exude confidence during your next interview.

Body language before the interview

It’s important to start making a good impression as soon as you walk through the door. While you may not have met your interviewer at this point, it’s still possible that the receptionist or potential future co-workers are observing you.

Make sure you keep good posture when standing and sitting in the reception area. Place your briefcase or purse to the left side of your chair, this will reduce awkwardness when you have to shake the interviewer’s hand and grab your personal items.

Body language during the interview

The handshake

You should always start an interview by shaking hands with your interviewer. A firm handshake can help you demonstrate confidence, create a bond, and become more memorable to your interviewer. Your interviewer is also more likely to be friendlier and more open.

Walk with purpose

By walking with purpose to the interview room it helps show you’re confident and you feel you belong in that environment.

Posture

No slouching, this can have the effect of looking too relaxed. Keep your back straight, lean forward slightly to show you feel interested and engaged. Do not recline back into the chair fully, this can make you seem bored or disengaged.

Avoid crossing your arms or placing items in your lap, this can make you appear defensive or guarded, and a need for self-protection when what you want to convey is confidence.

Smile

Smile and nod where appropriate, laugh when the interviewer does. You also want to show you have a personality and you’re paying attention to what they’re saying.

Focus on your tone, it should remain polite throughout. Too soft and you’ll seem timid, too loud and you’ll seem domineering.

Eye contact

It’s important to make eye contact during your interview. Aim to make eye contact as you listen and respond to questions, but allow it to break occasionally, and let your eyes wander. You do not want to maintain constant eye contact and come across aggressive or avoid eye contact and seem distant.

Mirror your interviewer

You can quickly get on good terms with your interviewer by matching their positive body language. Mirroring a nod or a subtle shift in posture can create common ground between two people while matching a handshake is always a good equaliser. When it comes to handshakes, always remember to stick to the middle ground. Too firm is arrogance, too weak is a pushover.

Avoid restless habits

Speaking of fidgeting, if you’re a nail-biter, knuckle cracker, hair twirler, or leg tapper; don’t allow these habits to make an appearance during the interview. All will appear unprofessional and convey nerves.

How we can help you

Here at Recruit Mint we truly care about helping you find your dream job. We will help with prepping you for your interview, including going through all of the tips above, whilst helping with any queries you have at every stage of the application and interview process.

If you want us to help you find that dream job, then register today or view our latest jobs in Peterborough to apply.

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