What Your Body Language Says About You During an Interview

 

Using body language to make a great impressing during an interview.

 

Job interviews are almost always stressful. I've often said that looking for a job is a whole lot like dating, and the interview is similar to a first date. Basically, you have to sit down with someone you don't know and tell them who you are and why they should care. Then, you have to make them like you.

 

I think that a job interview may actually be more stressful than a first date, because on the date at least you and the other person have the same agenda. Both of you are nervous and trying to impress the other. In an interview however, the employer has the upper hand and they aren't nervous about making a good impression on you.

 

This type of power disparity is what makes interviews so uncomfortable. Without even realizing it, your discomfort and nervousness comes through in your body language. If you want to make the best impression and present yourself as someone who is enthusiastic, calm and likeable, it's important to manage the information your body language broadcast.

 

Here are the most common was your body communicates how comfortable you are:

 

Positive:

 

Leaning toward the other person.

Uncrossed arms or legs.

Long periods of eye contact.

Looking down and away.

Real smiles.

 

Negative:

 

Leaning away or moving further away.

Crossed arms.

Feet pointed toward the exit.

Rubbing or scratching eyes, nose or back of neck.

 

Before your next interview, practice using body language to convey a message of comfort and excitement. The most important thing you can do is start off on the right note by greeting the interviewer with a genuine smile, a nice handshake and a warm greeting. This way, you can become comfortable quickly and not have to worry about how your nerves are expressing themselves non-verbally.

 

If you still find yourself displaying some of the mannerisms on the negative list, don't worry too much, most interviewers expect that you will be nervous. In fact, if you were completely comfortable, the interviewer might even wonder if you were taking the interview seriously.

 

Just remember that when it comes right down to it, there is only so much you can do to impress a potential employer – the rest is up to them. All you can do is be prepared, try to get comfortable at the beginning and keep an eye out for any negative body language you may be displaying.

 

What do you think about body language? Do you frequently use any of the gestures on the lists? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

 

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for HealthcareJobsiteBlog and Nexxt.. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.