The role of body language during a job interview can largely dictate whether you will be successful in your job pursuit or not. It's easier to control the words coming out of your mouth than what your body is communicating.
An often cited study from the late 60's states that 55% of communication is body language, 38% is tone of voice, and 7% is the actual words spoken. Although this breakdown might not be exact, it does emphasize the power of non-verbal communication to impress your potential employer.
It would be good if you are prepared for some of things you are expected to be aware of prior to the interview like information about the company, potential questions to be asked, dress code etc.
ALSO READ: The one question you should always ask at the end of a job interview
Body language, remember, is fundamental to any interview process- you must at all times project confident and respectful demeanor not though words alone but also subtly through your body language.
Here are handy tips on body language that you should employ if you want to bag your dream job or any job for that matter.
1) Smile
This doesn't mean a frozen beauty queen smile or a tense "from the lips
down" politician smile. Rather, the smile that happens spontaneously
when you meet a new person for the first time: warm, curious, open.
Ultimately that's how you should see your interviewer - as a person
you're eager to meet. 2) Handshake
In addition to your smile, your handshake can set the tone for the rest
of the interview. Wait for the interviewer to initiate and then shake
their hand firmly and warmly. Maintain eye contact while introducing
yourself and follow their cues on when to let go. Nothing's more awkward
than an over-long handshake. 3) Eye Contact
The eyes are the windows to the soul and this is especially true in a
job interview. Employers are looking for unspoken clues in your face and
body language and your eyes tend to give away a lot. Looking away too
much can show that you're evasive or untrustworthy. Staring can show
that you're aggressive or just plain weird. Throughout the interview,
try to maintain eye contact naturally - moving your head here and there,
periodically nodding your head. Basically, paying attention to what is
being said rather than how you're doing it. 4) Posture
Once you enter the interview room and you've already exchanged
greetings with the interviewer; then its crucial that you maintain a
good posture once you are seated. Stand and sit up straight (not too
stiff though) and try not to cross your arms because hunching down
simply indicates that you are nervous or are suffering from low self
esteem. The goal is to convey confidence and ease rather than stiffness
or sloppiness. If possible, sit at an angle from the interviewer rather
than straight across. This will feel more collegial and less
confrontational. 5) Movement of your arms
Your arms or hands movements and positioning can indicate whether you
are nervous or confident. The general rule of the thumb is to put your
hands on your lap or loosely clasped on the table if you want to appear
calm or confident. Some of the hands or arms positioning that you ought
to avoid include; fiddling your face or hair (shows how nervous or
anxious you are), putting arms above the neck (shows your uncertainty),
touching your lips (shows you are lying), touching your nose (project
the image that you are insincere), folding arms across your chest
(indicates that you are defensive or have something to hide) etc.As long
as your hand movements don't become a distraction, feel free to use
gestures as a way to support your answers. Just be cognizant that they
aren't too emotive, nervous or over-the-top. In most cases, the more prepared you are for an interview, the less nervous you'll feel. And the less nervous you are, the better you'll come across in any situation. So, go kill it!
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