Have you ever thought about what your body is saying even when you’re not talking? Have you ever wondered if the interviewer thinks of you as confident or arrogant? A study has found that recruiters can guess whether a candidate would perform well at work, by merely studying their body language. This implies that maintaining a good body and avoiding bad body language helps immensely in an interview.
Here are 7 body language tips to impress your interviewer at your next face to face job interview:
1. Keep your breath fresh – If you are meeting the interviewer for the first time, your interview starts long before you actually meet them face to face. Your body language throughout this process is studied carefully by the interviewer and might determine whether they offer you an opportunity or not. There are a couple of things that people tend to do that can give out bad signals about them even when they’re getting ready for their interview, such as – chewing gum, yawning excessively. etc. So make sure not to engage in these activities if you want to come across as someone with good communication skills and a confident attitude.
2. Stand tall and look ahead – It’s important to maintain a good posture during an interview because it helps convey a sense of confidence. No matter what you are doing, whether answering a question or asking one yourself, keep your head up and avoid slouching in your chair. If you already have good posture, it helps to straighten your shoulders slightly when asked a question to convey that you are ready for the challenge.
3. Maintain eye contact – Good body language always includes maintaining eye contact with the interviewer while speaking about something or answering questions; this makes them feel like they’re being addressed directly and not ignored whilst other things seem more important than what they have to say. It also allows you to read the interviewer’s reaction and keep track of how well your answer is going down. People who fail to maintain eye contact come across as lying and lacking confidence; this is not the desired quality in a person.
4. Relaxed and open body language: It’s important to keep an open posture throughout the interview process, leaning slightly forward when you want to add emphasis or ask for something from the interviewer, such as asking questions about the job role or company culture. It also helps avoid appearing arrogant and uninterested in what you have to say; this can be seen by crossing arms or legs which convey bad body language and negative traits.
5. Avoid distractions – Your interviewer wants your full attention, so make sure that you take out time before your interview to switch off all electronic devices that might distract you during the interview. This includes switching off your cell phone, closing any other tabs in your browser, and keeping your laptop in sleep mode. It’s also a good idea to avoid wearing an overly loud piece of jewelry that might distract you and the interviewer from what you have to say; this includes necklaces, large earrings, etc.
6. Avoid fidgeting with objects on the table- It’s very common for people to play with or fix objects on the table when they are nervous about something; this is really distracting and conveys bad body language all around. Try not to touch objects on the table until advised by the interviewer towards the end of the interview, unless it’s absolutely necessary and related to answering a question.
7. Maintain good eye contact if using hand gestures – If you tend to speak using hand gestures when you are nervous, it’s important to watch your eye contact because looking away can be interpreted as lying or disinterest. It’s also important to only gesture with your hands when you’re speaking about something and not do so in between questions; this tends to appear aggressive and makes the person seem like they’re eager for their turn to speak.
Here are 7 tips for body language during a video interview:
1. Maintain eye contact with the camera: It’s important to maintain good body language during an interview by looking into the lens of the camera when speaking to your interviewer, not looking out of frame or up at the screen which can make you appear distracted and uninterested in what is being asked. Also, try to avoid moving around too much in your seat because this can look like fidgeting!
2. Try not to reach for objects that are out of frame: When you’re talking about something just focus on speaking instead of reaching for something that is on the table, but out of the frame because it might come across as rude – even if it’s just water! This includes adjusting your chair slightly so that more of your body coming into the frame, which can also convey that you’re careless about the interview process.
3. Prepare yourself before speaking: It’s always good to mentally prepare yourself before answering a question, but don’t do it to the point where you are looking away from the camera for too long; this looks like fidgeting and makes you appear distracted. Instead, take deep breaths to calm your nerves or make sure that you look into the camera when answering questions to avoid bad body language.
4. Be careful about moving around in your seat: Moving around excessively on your seat may seem like playing with things on the table if caught by the interviewer which won’t be viewed favorably, so try not to move too much while talking or during pauses in conversation; instead, just practice maintaining good body language for the duration of the Interview
5. Watch your hand gestures if using them: If you tend to sign while speaking or fidget with objects on the table, watch your eye contact because looking away can be interpreted as lying or disinterest. Also, only gesture with your hands when you’re speaking about something and not do so in between questions; this tends to appear aggressive and makes the person seem like they’re eager for their turn to speak.
6. Avoid distractions during a video interview: Your interviewer wants your full attention, so make sure that you take out time before your interview to switch off all electronic devices that might distract you during the interview, including switching off your cell, closing any other tabs on your computer, and keeping your hands still. It’s also a good idea to avoid wearing distractions such as big earrings, bright makeup, and distracting clothing during the interview because it can come across as unprofessional.
7. Prepare yourself before answering questions: Before answering a question, take deep breaths or look into the camera to appear more confident – but don’t look away for too long! This will help you appear more relaxed and attentive during the interview.
Interviews are a time when people’s body language is on display for all to see. It can be hard enough as it is, but you also want to make sure that your posture and gestures convey the right message. As we mentioned before, maintaining eye contact with your interviewer and not sitting back in your chair will help show them what kind of person they’re interviewing. Likewise, crossing arms or legs while seated conveys an air of arrogance that may hurt you during the interview process. We wish you the best of luck! visit Fostiima Business School Website
Explore The Full Series Here
Topic -1 How does Body Language Affect Your Chances of Getting Hired?
Topic – 2 Setup Mock-Interview Sessions with your seniors or Peers
Topic – 3 Research about the Company and its Product
Topic – 4 Your checklist for How to Dress for Campus Placement Interviews?
Topic- 5 Be truthful while responding to any question asked in the interview
Topic -6 Always thank your interviewer for their time and valuable feedback