Using Body Language To Ace An Interview
In this, the first of a three-part advice series, global body language expert Carole Railton shares with Belle About Town her advice for using body language to present yourself confidently in an interview situation. Next Friday, Carole will share her expertise further and discuss how to use body language to your advantage on the first day of a new job.
More than the spoken work, nonverbal communication and behaviours can secure a job interview. While verbal communication plays a large role in job seeking, nonverbal cues and behaviour are critical, they form the first impression that can determine whether you move forward in the hiring process. People make their mind up about you in the first few seconds and they hold onto that feeling about you for quite a while. You will do the same in whatever situation you find yourself in. It pays to make a good first impression more than at any other time in history, as we work so quickly and must make these decisions to move forward.
The following focus is on body language and personal conduct that can significantly enhance your chances of being invited back for a second job interview. Appearance matters! It goes without saying you must dress appropriately for your interview and the industry you are seeking to be part of. You are your personal brand and need to influence from the beginning. It might seem mundane to talk about grooming, but it is a must. Your hair needs to be neat, you need to have clean nails and the most famous one, polished shoes where necessary and clean shoelaces. It’s these basic details that your interviewer will be looking for, make sure your image works for you and them.
We still greet people with a firm handshake, and a smile to establish a positive connection. Smiles of course, need to be relaxed and genuine which will create warmth and approachability, and, where appropriate introduce yourself too.
With the introduction of online interviews and meetings it pays to be mindful of your facial expressions. Avoid frowning or raising your eyebrows, both signals that you are not comfortable. You job at an interview is twofold, firstly to establish if you want the job and secondly, to make sure you are in the running for a second interview to progress the situation.
Your face will indicate your feelings and intention naturally so ensure you are always feeling relaxed, and purposeful by having a natural face, with expressions that relay interest and curiosity by being honest and open. Maintain good posture whenever you are in a position of wanting to influence.
Standing and sitting up straight convey confidence and readiness, so avoid slouching or leaning heavily in one direction. Carry yourself with confidence and move with purpose. It does not matter if you are navigating a career fair or in front of interviewers, you must avoid fidgeting, excessive movements and, of course, make your phone is switched off so you do not get distracted!
When speaking face to face, avoid staring, but be mindful to meet a person’s gaze when speaking or listening. One way to influence others is to look into their left eye when talking. The left side of your body is the receiving side and when you get this right, they too will look into your left eye and communications will speed up. This is exactly what you need, and it gives you more successes and more time!
Practise this before an interview with a friend so you understand which is the left eye on a person you are in front of, and to give you confidence in what you are doing. You have probably heard the expression ‘personal space’ which refers to the two to three feet of space around you. Personal space is usually for close friends and relationships; all other connections need to be over three feet away from you.
If your personal space is invaded, like in a lift of a busy football match, you can feel uncomfortable, and it shows. This boundary ought to be always respected to prevent others feeling uncomfortable. Open body language, where hand gestures are away from your body and your palms are facing up, supports you. They indicate you are relaxed. Avoid closed gestures like hiding hands or placing them in pockets which generally signal insecurity, its professionalism that you are projecting, confidence in yourself. Perhaps this is a little old fashioned as you will have already sent an electronic version of your CV, however, it pays to take a paper copy with you to an interview, you can use it to validate what you are saying and draw attention to points of interest in the interview. You might even like to have more graphics on this paper version and place it in a folder to create a more professional image.
Finally, if you follow these tips on body language it will significantly influence how your are perceived by potential employers for the better. By consistently projecting confidence and respect and being professional with your nonverbal clues, you will enhance your likelihood of being noticed and remembered for the right reasons.
Keep those feet firmly on the ground through so you are grounded. This process will surely make a success of your next interview and gain the employment you are seeking.
