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55 Year after JFK assasination
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What your body language is saying
about you during an interview
October 17,
2018
Poor body
language can send messages that you’re incapable, nervous, or unhappy–all
adjectives you don’t want an interviewer associating with you.
Sometimes it’s
the little things that sabotage your chance at a new career. Here’s how to
prevent body language from losing you a job offer.
Everyone has
physical habits they rarely notice. In an interview setting, these nervous
ticks offer a physical outlet for the stress you’re under. But they come
at a price. Rather than focusing on what you’re saying or the experience you’d
bring, the hiring manager’s attention turns to your nail-biting or
hair-twirling. The scariest part? You may not even realize you’re doing it.
Poor body
language can send messages that you’re incapable, nervous, or unhappy–all
adjectives you don’t want an interviewer associating with you. An
interviewer may forgive you for a subpar answer on the 5th
question you’re asked, but if your body language offers physical
evidence you don’t work well under pressure or you’re not confident in your
abilities? It’s going to be hard to come back.
Don’t undermine
how qualified you are with poor habits. Practice avoiding these common
moves before they cost you your next job.
Slouching
Remember when
your mom would tell you to stand up straight? She was on to something.
Slouching makes you look as though you’re bored and disengaged, and leaning forward too much can make the interviewer feel crowded. Standing up straight instills a sense of confidence and ownership of the situation. To the interviewer, it makes you look taller, but also more capable and self-assured.
Slumping
Think about the
last social gathering you attended where you didn’t know anyone. Did you cross
your arms? Put your hands in your pockets?
Crossing your
arms or hunching over (which most of us have a habit of doing without
realizing) can make you seem insecure. Although it can feel comforting to fold
your arms in front of your chest, the movement sends a signal that you’re
uninterested or unapproachable in the conversation. Some even view it as
aggressive.
You want to
appear open, approachable, and friendly during an interview. To avoid the
hunch, remember to keep your arms relaxed by your side or hold your resume folio in your hands to
prevent yourself from resorting to old habits. Having good posture throughout
the interview will make you look–and actually feel–more confident.
Whether it’s
tucking your hair behind your ear, touching your face, or tapping your foot,
nervous gestures creep up out of nowhere.
Smirking
You’ll want to
avoid rolling your eyes or giving any signs you’re nervous or frustrated. But
that doesn’t mean you need to remain absolutely serious during an interview—you
should definitely try to showcase your personality.
An easy way to
help break the ice is to smile. When you do, you’re telling your potential
future employer in that 1) you’re normal and 2) it would actually be fun to
work with you on a daily basis. Most importantly, a smile will help you relax
so you can present the best version of yourself.
Fiddling
Whether it’s
tucking your hair behind your ear, touching your face, or tapping your foot,
nervous gestures creep up out of nowhere. They can make you look distracted or,
worse, showcase insecurity. Be self-aware. Take control by placing your hands
on the table or on the armrest.
Not sure how to
act? One way to instill a sense of trust during an interview is to subtly mimic
the movement of your interviewer. Without acting like a copycat, try to mirror
your interviewer’s body language. If your interviewer is leaning forward during
the conversation, lean slightly forward as well to show you’re interested in
what she has to say. This subtle technique shows you’re on the same team.
Handshaking
Your handshake
alone can set the stage for the rest of the interview. No pressure!
A too-firm
handshake can signal you’re overcompensating. A too light handshake hints at a
lack of confidence. If you offer a weak handshake during a high-pressure
situation like an interview, the interviewer might wonder how you’d handle meeting
an important stakeholder. Practice makes perfect so try some mock introductions
with friends or family to get it right.
And don’t be
afraid to be the first person to extend your hand. A strong handshake is one of
the few ways to appropriately touch someone in a corporate setting, and it can
instill a sense of kindness and warmth–if done right.
A word on eye contact
Think about the
last few conversations you had. Did anyone stare at you for too long? Did they
frequently look away? What was your gut reaction about that person?
Maintaining eye
contact with your interviewer demonstrates you’re confident and can hold your
own in a conversation, but staring too long can feel unnatural. If you
consistently avert your interviewer’s gaze, your interviewer may find cause for
concern–a shifty gaze signals you can’t be trusted.
Find the happy
medium (eye contact about 70 percent of the time) that will demonstrate your
emotional intelligence without scaring anyone away.
At its worst,
poor body language can send a message that we’re incapable of the task at hand.
When your dream job is on the line, you don’t want to risk losing out because
you crossed your arms at the wrong time.
Create a
neutral canvas to give yourself the best start for your
next great opportunity.
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===============================================================In addition to this blog, Netiquette IQ has a website with great assets which are being added to on a regular basis. I have authored the premiere book on Netiquette, “Netiquette IQ - A Comprehensive Guide to Improve, Enhance and Add Power to Your Email". My new book, “You’re Hired! Super Charge Your Email Skills in 60 Minutes. . . And Get That Job!” has just been published and will be followed by a trilogy of books on Netiquette for young people. You can view my profile, reviews of the book and content excerpts at:
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In addition to this blog, I maintain a radio show on BlogtalkRadio and an online newsletter via paper.li.I have established Netiquette discussion groups with Linkedin and Yahoo. I am also a member of the International Business Etiquette and Protocol Group and Minding Manners among others. I regularly consult for the Gerson Lehrman Group, a worldwide network of subject matter experts and I have been contributing to the blogs Everything Email and emailmonday . My work has appeared in numerous publications and I have presented to groups such as The Breakfast Club of NJ and PSG of Mercer County, NJ.
Additionally, I am the president of Tabula Rosa Systems,
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