Did you know that your body language plays a vital role in how the other people perceive you? Similarly, interview body language during a job interview can make or break one’s your chances of getting hired. What does boy language involve? These include nonverbal cues such as gestures, facial expressions, and tone of voice used in communication. Hiring managers assess their candidates according to these kinds of nonverbal communication, in order to determine who’s best fit for the job.
Preparing for the interview by researching potential questions and how answer them is one thing. However, another thing to prepare for is your interview body language. This is not just to impress the hiring manager, but also to send the right message and avoid being misinterpreted. Knowing this, you can use it to your advantage and land the job that you want. In this article, we’ve listed the dos and don’ts of body language in an interview. Read on.
Related Article: Phone Interview Questions: A Practical Guide on How to Answer Them
Body Language in an Interview: The Dos and Don’ts
So you’ve done your research with the interview, including preparing a checklist of reminders and whatnot. Good job! Having that said, your job search game has just begun.
Interview Body Language Dos
As stated previously, your interview body language is just as important. Therefore, let’s look at the 10 things to do during the job interview.
1. Radiate confidence.
Present yourself properly, calmly, and composed. When entering the room, greet the interviewer or panel of interviewers politely and nicely. Smile—a nice first impression upon the first meeting will give you an advantage among other applicants. The first few seconds will dictate how the interview will go, so make the most of it.
2. Give a proper handshake.
Depending on protocol, give a firm handshake after the greeting. Recruiters widely accept this gesture in the professional setting. This interview body language will clearly send a signal to the interviewer that you are confident and enthusiastic about the job.
3. Stand straight and sit upright.
Practicing and maintaining good posture all throughout the job interview will show how confident and composed you are.
Related Article: Interview Preparation Guide and Fail Stories to Learn From
4. Mind your legs and feet.
Keep your legs relaxed, and feet on the floor. This interview body language lets the interviewer know that you are calm and have self-discipline.
5. Maintain good eye contact.
Being attentive to the interviewer is essential, and this is highlighted when you keep your attention to them by maintaining eye contact. This interview body language is very powerful, since it helps establish good rapport between you and the interviewer.
6. Be mindful of your gestures.
Making good gestures such as slight nodding while the interviewer is speaking signifies you are listening attentively. It guarantees a productive job interview.
7. Lean forward to listen attentively.
Lean a little forward toward the interviewer, while still respecting their personal space. This interview body language will emphasize how attentive you are as a listener. Moreover, it also gives a signal to the interviewer that you are interested in the job and should be taken seriously.
8. Mind your facial expression.
As noted above, smile from the start of the interview and all throughout. This will send a message that you are an optimistic person and highly interested in the position. This will bring a good interview experience.
9. Speak in a clear voice.
Speak and answer with a clear voice. Make sure that you use a confident tone—not too loud and not too low. How you sound may affect how you present yourself during the interview, and this might prompt the interviewer to think you’re not suited for the role.
10. Mirror the interviewer.
Subtly imitate your interviewer’s body language and gesture from time to time. This body language promotes mutual understanding and rapport during the job interview.
Related Article: What to Wear for an Online Job Interview? Look Like a Pro and Ace Your Interview
Interview Body Language Don’ts
By contrast, we’ve listed below the things to avoid during the interview.
1. Don’t send a wrong impression.
Do not make yourself look arrogant. Tilting your head up high and looking fierce might send the wrong impression. Keep your head on level to appear confident and collected.
2. Don’t chew gum.
This is not presentable and considered as unprofessional to do during a job interview.
3. Avoid unnecessary your mannerisms.
Mannerisms are hand gestures we make unknowingly. First and foremost, be aware of them and make sure you don’t unnecessarily show them during the job interview. While nervousness is a natural response to a new situation, touching your hair, drumming your fingers, and touching your face all make a job seeker appear incompetent, unprepared, and unable to work under pressure
4. Don’t cross your arms and legs.
Crossing your arms and legs during an interview signifies disagreement. You might appear uninterested and difficult to get along with.
5. Avoid slouching.
Slouching during an interview is perceived as being incompetent, unreliable and unconfident.
Related Article: 5 Proven Reasons Job Interviews Feel So Awkward
6. Do not hug.
Respect the interviewer’s personal space and do not initiate physical contact apart from a handshake—let alone a hug. This interview body language is unacceptable and unprofessional.
Related Article: 10 Helpful Tips to Prepare for a Zoom Interview
What’s Next After Mastering Your Body Language in an Interview
More than knowing the interview body language tips, however, the overall personality you demonstrate is what really matters to the interviewer. In line with this, after a productive job interview, in order to seal the deal, it pays to send a thank-you letter or a follow-up email to the interviewer to show your appreciation for their time.
Ultimately, preparation is your key to success. Complemented with a job-winning resume written by the top resume writing service providers, you increase your chances of landing your target post. Check our lists for the top resume services today. Best of luck!
