Body Language

Don’t ad-lib your way through an?interview. Thorough preparation is vital to progression.

Before your interview, take time to prepare. Try on the outfit you’ll wear in advance to ensure it’s a comfortable fit. Compose strong?answers?to sample questions, or have a friend do a mock interview with you. Practicing?helps you to speak about your experience without hesitation during the interview?and ensures that you won’t get caught off guard by a curveball question.?

“Humans impress first visually, then vocally (tone of voice), then verbally, and the last is haptics, through touch.” (Joe Navarro)

Your interview commences before you enter the conference room. Recruiters will scroll through your social media, so clean up your online presence. Behave professionally from the moment you approach the site of the interview. Decision-makers might be?observing your comportment,?such as how you interact with auxiliary staff, without your realizing that you’re being watched.?

Bringing a copy of your résumé to the interview will make you seem prepared. When handing it to the interviewer, treat it as though it were an important document rather than a?mere piece of paper.?

Give every person in the room equal respect and attention.

Humans judge one another?within milliseconds of meeting, so be attuned to?your body language to ensure it communicates the positive message you want to convey. Upon entering the conference room,?don’t direct all your attention toward the hiring manager or the person with the highest status; show respect for?all the interview panelists by making equal eye contact with each person. Use a strong voice when introducing yourself.?Keep a confident, upright posture. Shake hands with each panelist before asking for permission to take a seat.

“Never try and dominate a handshake.” (Abbie Maro?o)

When shaking hands, try to match the other person’s grip – neither too limp nor overly tight. Keep the handshake short – about three to four pumps. Don’t grasp the interviewer’s hand or arm, or extend the?shake for longer than feels comfortable. Keep all your fingers below the other person’s wrist.

During the interview, remember to pause?and listen.?

Let the interviewer guide?the direction?of the discussion. Pause and take a breath before you start talking. Actively listen, and nod to indicate that the interviewer has your full?attention. Tilt your head to express empathy. Remember to answer the question asked; don’t be so eager to impart an example or story that you fail to address the question. Beware of your body language. Fidgeting shows discomfort or disinterest, while crossing your arms exhibits a negative attitude. Don’t sit too stiff and upright?or recline too much. Try to appear relaxed while still conveying an air of professionalism.?

“Maintain that confidence level, maintain that posture, maintain that poise until you are fully out of the room.” (Abbie Maro?o)

Once the interview has wrapped up, thank the panelists?for their time and the opportunity to speak with them. Shake hands with everyone. If you have one,?leave a business card. Remember that this is your final?opportunity?to give the panelists?a positive lasting impression of yourself. The interview is over only once you are out of sight, so leave the room with the same positive energy and professional demeanor with which you entered.?

You have more control when you conduct an interview virtually.

When you conduct an interview remotely, you have more jurisdiction over the interview setting. Ensure your sound and lighting are optimal. Don’t rely on your laptop’s built-in camera. Buy a good quality webcam. Clear your background of any?clutter or any details that could distract the interviewer.

“The best conversations take place with comfort for both parties.” (Anna-Maartje Oud)

The interviewer can’t see your body, so put more emphasis on your facial expressions. Making eye contact through the camera is vital.?When the interviewer speaks, look at your screen. When you speak, look at your camera. Don’t be tempted to look at yourself or you could fall victim to Zoom fatigue, the tendency to look and feel exhausted and disinterested when seeing your own image?in online meetings.?Communication?platforms like Zoom can impose a technical delay on conversations, which can make turn-yielding trickier. Be alert to this foible when choosing the right moment to speak.

Ultimately, the interviewer’s goal is “information elicitation,” and your goal is?to?convey?competence, confidence?and dependability. With practice and good body language, you can show?that you are the right person to represent the company.?