The moment you walk into an interview, you will be judged. The way in which you close the door behind you, sit in the chair or even make eye contact can harm your chances of interview success. Oftentimes, job seekers find that no matter what they do, they simply cannot land their dream job. The one factor that you may be overlooking is the one that can be the most detrimental – body language.
Posture is Everything
When you lean too far back or too far forward, you will be making a huge mistake. When a person leans back, they are viewed as lazy. Leaning forward can be seen as aggressive and intimidating. Instead, it is best to sit straight up in a neutral position.
Neutral posture will ensure that you look alert and interested at all times – rather than bored or aggressive.
Eye Contact is a Must
Eye contact, without staring, must be made with the interviewer. Not only is this a sign of respect and confidence, but it also helps make a personal connection with the interviewer. The goal is to maintain eye contact whenever dialog is ongoing, and especially when shaking hands.
Leave the Hand Gestures at Home
If you are excitable and love to make hand gestures, you may be disappointed to learn that this is a big no-no during a job interview. Instead, keep your hands in a neutral position on your lap. While the interview may be going smoothly, a single point of the finger can make a negative impact on your job chances.
Another point to make is to not keep your arms crossed. This is more of a defiant stance that should be avoided. Remember, your hands must be by your side in a way that is more likeable and approachable.
Be Careful of Fidgeting
When you fidget, you display fear and anxiety. This is something that must be kept out of the interview at all times. This will include:
- Frequent repositioning
- Biting your nails
- Constantly making arm movements
- Tapping of the hands or feet
Remember, interviewers want you to display a high level of confidence at all times. If you are fidgeting, they may believe that you are either not prepared for the job, or you are not qualified. Do your best to be as calm and relaxed as possible.
Vocal Volume
The volume of your voice can be overbearing or too low to understand. You must keep your voice at a proper volume at all time. While this may not be “body language,” it can completely ruin your interview chances.
Unfortunately, there are simply loud talkers and soft talkers. If this is the case, try your best to keep a nice pitch at all times. No interviewer leaves the room thinking that the person yelling at them or that they couldn’t hear is the ideal candidate for a job.
The way you present yourself is half the battle. When in doubt, you want to go into a job interview with as much confidence and surety as possible. A mock interview, with a friend or family member, may help you point out weak points in your presentation.
Written by: Eugene Fesyuk
For more info visit: jobtonic.com
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