Good Body Language in a Job Interview

Maintaining good body language in a job interview is so crucial to landing that all important job.  You’ve got your two-minute speech down, 2 minute speech, you’ve rehearsed your responses to the typical questions; now you’ve just gotta work on your body language. Good body language is incredibly important in all walks of life—not just in a job interview! You have to know how to walk that thin line between confident and obnoxious, intelligent or arrogant, and your body language will make the difference. Here’s a few body language tips that can help your image in your interview:

• Posture- Sit all the way back in your chair: Maintaining excellent posture is most important in an interview. While sitting, keep your back straightened and leaning all the way back against your chair. This will signal confidence and assurance.

• Don’t use direct eye contact: Looking someone straight in the eye can be creepy and unnerving. Instead, keep your eyes focused on your interviewer’s face, but rotate your gaze around their other facial features: from their eyes, to the nose, to their lips—but don’t intensely stare straight into their eyes.

• Hand gestures while speaking: Moving your hands around while you talk will make you appear more animated, friendly, and upbeat, and it will help to diffuse any nervousness or anxiety you might be feeling. People who use hand gestures tend to be more engaging. By doing this, you will command more attention from the hiring manager.

• Walk with swagger: When you’ve finally been called in to interview, stand straight and walk with confidence. Some hiring managers make decisions within ten seconds of meeting a candidate. Your handshake and walk will yield that first impression. Make both count.

• Nod your head while the interviewer speaks: Nodding your head while listening signals that you are attentive. It will show your interviewer that you are enjoying and understanding everything they are saying.

• Occasionally lean in: Every now and then, lean in with your body while the interviewer is speaking to you. But do not hunch over. Instead, lean slightly forward while keeping your shoulders back and your chest high. This is an additional move that shows your attentiveness, and the seriousness you feel for the position you are applying for.

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