Proper Body Language During A Job Interview

A job interview is very essential for both the employer and applicant for the very reason that it will be the basis of rejecting or accepting the applicant for the vacant job. Thus, as an applicant, it is relevant that he or she must be fully prepared for the job interview. You must remember that your employer or interviewer does not only consider the way you dress, your credentials, or even your answers to his questions. Your body language is also being well-observed.

Your body language can tell another person what kind of person you are, your emotions, and state of mind. An employer would be looking for a confident and competent employee. Thus, you should know and learn the posture to maintain, movements to impress, and gestures to avoid during the interview.

Postures You Must Maintain

Never slouch! Either in sitting or standing, slouching would give the impression of laziness or lack of confidence. Do not sit at the edge of the chair, this would mean that you are too nervous or tense. Simply relax into your chair, and place your hands on your lap. Crossing the legs is not really advisable, but nonetheless it is fine, as long as the direction of your body is towards the interviewer.

Movements To Impress

You can show your interest and confidence through handshakes, and you can give a good first impression as well. However, there are times wherein initiating the handshake would make you appear overconfident. When you shake hands, make sure you make eye contact, but not longer than three seconds. Your palm should be able to touch the palm of your interviewer. Extend your arm and point your hand downwards.

Eye contact is important in a job interview. This shows that you are honest, sincere, and confident. The lack of eye contact may mean that you are lying or being uncomfortable.

When responding, make use of your hands. Showing your palm when explaining something indicates that you are being relaxed, honest, and confident. The interviewer will think that you know what you are talking about. If you want to emphasize something, you can do it with a clenched fist; but this is not an advisable gesture during an interview.

You can show interest and that you are listening attentively to your interviewer through head movements. Nodding is a reinforcement that you understood or agreed to what he or she said. Even though there are ideas that you would like to oppose to, nodding is still preferable rather than arguing. The latter might be the reason why you cannot get the job.

Gestures You Must Avoid

Avoid putting your hands into your pockets. This can emphasize your nervousness, or can give your interviewer that you may be hiding something from him, or you are uninterested to get the job. You can use hand movements when talking, however do not use them frequently. Excess movements can distract your interviewer from listening to your responses.

Another gesture you must avoid is frequent eye movement. Avoiding the interviewer's eyes will make him think that you are not listening or getting bored and uninterested. This may also give the impression that you are the type of person who is easily distracted, a weakness that could make you unqualified for the job.

Better Safe Than Sorry

Body language does not necessarily show what you intend to convey or really feel. But it is an advantage that you know the gestures you must use or avoid during a job interview to give a good impression for the words that you long to hear: “Congratulations. You are hired!”