Did you know that your body language is an important part of any job interview? There are many people who fear job interviews and aren’t aware of their body language or know how to control their gestures. Body language can give the interviewer a first impression, a favorable or an unfavorable one.
The nervousness and anxiety in your body language can deliver a negative message to the person in front of you.
“Fake it till you make it,” that’s what they say, keep practicing your body language and be aware of your gestures and moves during the interview. Bayt.com has gathered all the tips you need to ease the job interview process in terms of body language:
1. Maintain eye contact
A rule of thumb is to make sure you maintain eye contact with the interviewer during the interview, and specifically when they are talking to you. However, avoid staring at the person in front of you; rather a soft glance is enough to deliver the body language message through the eyes. Keep the interviewer comfortable. You can think of it as you are meeting a potential friend for the first time, you want to keep it friendly but also give them your full attention.
An important note, in case you are interviewing a panel, keep in mind that you must balance the eye contact with all members. While a panel member takes their turn to speak, shift your focus with what they are saying. In every panel interview, you will always find one person who will make you feel more comfortable during the interview, so whenever you feel nervous, look at that person to make you feel calmer.
Eye contact goes along with your facial expressions, make sure your face is relaxed and avoid glaring and staring. Check that you have neutral facial expressions when listening to others, and pay attention that you look interested, rather than confused.
2. A firm handshake with a greeting
As soon as you enter the room and face the interviewer, make sure you greet them in a friendly way, and never forget the others in case it is a panel interview. Thank them all for their time and shake hands as you greet them. This will boost your self-confidence and give you more power to engage in the interview. Also, this way will make you seem more friendly and approachable to the interviewer. Healthy posture and a firm hand shake is your key to show self confidence.
3. Smile, smile, and keep smiling
Everyone hates a grumpy face, specifically in a tensed environment. Start your interview with a smile, you will feel more comfortable and give the chance to the interviewer or the panel to feel more at ease during the interview. Remember, negotiating and explaining yourself doesn’t mean you have to frown and be grumpy, that can be done with a smile too!
4. Nod your head while listening to the interviewer/panel
Nodding your head can be understood differently in other countries and cultures, however, in Arab countries it is known as accepting and understanding what you are hearing and will follow what the interviewer or other person has to say in terms of questions and information. This will indicate to the interviewer that you are attentive, focused and interested in what they are saying.
5. Hand gestures while speaking
Some people don’t really know what to do with their hands during an interview. The best place for your hands is on top of the table in front of you. If it happens and there isn’t a table, then place them on the arm rests of your chair. Moving your hands as you are explaining and saying something makes you look more expressive, however, be careful of overreacting as it can distract the interviewer.
Make it unplanned! Avoid overacting and focusing only on the body language. Keep it spontaneous as you want to seem as natural as possible. However, practice in front of a mirror ahead of time to make sure you got the basics mastered.
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