What is your body language saying?

We acknowledge that the job interview is a conversation, and like any good conversation the use of body language is critical.

Communication is a process of exchanging information between individuals either by the way we behave, what we say, how we say it and the medium we choose.

The job interview can be an in-person meeting or online, where the applicant is asked a series of questions to determine their suitability for the role they have applied for.

During the conversation, questions are asked by the interviewing panel as well as the applicant. Whilst the verbal response from the applicant can determine his/her success; their body language can derail their chances because the interviewer often look at this to formulate their opinion of the candidate.

Key areas of body language to pay attention to

1. The Handshake - a solid grip and direct eye contact displays confidence and make creates a good first impression. The way to display 'the handshake' during an online interview is by looking into the lens of the camera. You can glance at the computer screen from time to time, but looking directly at the camera is the way to make eye contact.
2. Body posture - sit straight and lean on the back of the chair, keep your shoulders down with your head and neck facing the interviewer.
3. Facial expression - this can be a dead give away during the interview and of course do not chew gum. Be aware of licking your lips, eyebrow movements, frowning and yawning. These express boredom and you disengage with the interviewer at this point.
4. Hand gestures - what you do with your hands during the interview process is just as important as what you say. Simple gestures, such as touching your fingertips together, moving your fingers while you talk and clasping your palms can indicate that you are an open and honest person.
5. Smile - a warm and genuine smile can do much to improve your chances in a job interview. Similar to making eye contact, smiling when you enter the room/online and leaving the room helps to connect with the interviewer. During the interview smiling at something being said shows that you have a sense of humour. We are not talking about a constant grin or loud laughter as this can come across as a nervous reaction.
6. Mirroring the interviewer - one of the best ways to leave a lasting impression, is to mirror the body language of the interviewer. If they nod at something you have said, you can nod to show that you understand him/her. If they sit up straight with hands on the desk, you should do likewise to show you are paying attention.

Albert Mehrabian, a researcher of body language, first broke down the components of a face-to-face conversation. He found that communication is 55% nonverbal, 38% vocal, and 7% words only.

“The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said.”― Peter F. Drucker, so the next time you have a job interview pay attention to your nonverbal communication!