Body Language: Do’s & Don’ts at Interviews

In our previous blog post on “Top Reasons Why Job Candidates Don’t Get Hired,” we briefly mentioned the importance of maintaining the proper body language in an interview.

The old saying “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it,” still holds meaning, even if you’re not talking. Your expressions and stances can speak volumes!

DO’s:

• Point your feet toward the person you want to connect with. Janine Driver, author of You Say More Than You Think, says that “We lean towards things we like and away from things we don’t.” If your interviewer is sitting up and leaning in your direction, chances are that they’re interested in what you have to say.
• Keep Hands Open. By keeping your hands open and relaxed, as opposed to clenching them, it shows approachability.
• Lean In. Leaning away implies disinterest while leaning too far forward appears too aggressive. So keep your back straight and tall instead.
• Maintain Eye Contact. While it’s rude to stare, consistently maintaining good eye contact with your interviewer shows that you’re listening and interested.
• Smile! Above all else, don’t underestimate the power of a natural smile.

DON’Ts:

• Avoid crossing your arms. It subconsciously creates barriers and makes you look defensive. You want to look as approachable as possible so keep your arms uncrossed.
• Don’t bite your lip. When you bite your lip, you’re signaling to your interviewer that that you’re holding back and not giving the whole story. When you lick your lips, it can indicate anxiety.
• Stop touching your face. Whether it’s involuntarily scratching your face or twirling your hair, avoid touching your face during an interview. A lot can be learned by watching someone’s face so try to keep your face as natural looking as possible and stop fidgeting.
• Keep your Hands to Yourself. Try to keep your hands flat on your lap or on the table. Busy hand gestures can be distracting to your interviewer.
• Keep the Head Nodding to a Minimum. We subconsciously nod when we agree with someone but you don’t want to look like a bobble-head either. Nod once or twice to signal your focus.

It’s difficult to picture what you look like in an interview so practice in front of a mirror or ask a friend to give you observations on what you look like in a mock-interview.

Body language can clue your interviewer on what you’re not telling them, so practice makes perfect!

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