In brief: “A job interview is one of the most important meetings in your life. Unfortunately, a job interview lasts for not more than an hour. During this time, you should convince someone that you are the best man/woman for the job. Your job interview body language affects the interviewer decision toward you.”
There are several aspects that act as the “make or break concepts” of a job interview. The interview body language during an interview is one of the most important aspects.
Your body language in an interview
Preparation for a job interview is not only looking for the best answers to some tough interview questions. Facing a job interview consists of many factors. Here are some of the important points that you should consider about your body language during an interview:
1. Relax: The interview is one of the most important meetings in one’s life and being nervous or apprehensive about an interview is only expected. However, make sure that any kind of nervousness or a low confidence body language is not highlighted or communicated to the interviewer.
2. Not too relax: Of course, you should make it a point to ensure that you are not too relaxed and do not seem like a person with an intolerable attitude.
3. Posture: A slouched posture or a bored look on the face is a sure shot factor that will put off the interviewer. A slouched individual comes across as a person who is lazy, or doesn’t care too much about life in general. While walking and standing, make sure that you stand straight and do not show any kind of slouching body language.
4. Don’t lose Eye Contact: Eye contact forms another important part of the job interview body language, and also a very tricky aspect. When it comes to eye contact, make sure that you hold the gaze of anyone who holds yours. But, your eye contact should not intimidate someone. Also, the proper eye contact also depends on the gender of the person who is being looked at. Never try to lose eye contact with someone who is speaking to you. Losing eye contact gives the idea that you are not confident about the conversation or in yourself.
5. Sitting: Make sure that you do not place your elbows on the table in such a way that you seem like you are resting your head on the table. This again is a position that is frowned upon in corporate meetings. In the same manner, do not put your hands under the tables as if you are hiding something.. If you are sitting in the interview room before the interviewer arrives, make sure that you do not slouch into the chair or sit with your legs crossed over each other.
6. Before the interviewer arrives: If you are waiting in the interview room before your interviewer arrives, make sure that you are always calm and collected. You should not found in any area of the room where you should not be present, like near the book case.
7. Pleasantness: When it comes to social interaction, one of the most important aspects is a pleasant air about oneself. People should feel that you are a pleasant personality who is accessible to the right people at the right time. However, at the same time, the interviewer should not feel that you are immature or easy go lucky with your attitude towards life.
Although some of these interview body language points are psychological effects related to an individual’s personality, these may influence the interviewer decision toward you. Therefore, consider your body language as one of the tasks of your job interview preparations.
