{"id":4884,"date":"2022-03-11T05:14:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-11T12:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jobhunt.fj-dev.com\/interview-body-language\/"},"modified":"2022-03-11T11:54:02","modified_gmt":"2022-03-11T18:54:02","slug":"interview-body-language","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/interview-body-language\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Leverage Body Language in Job Interviews"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\nYou\u2019ve practiced your answers to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/common-interview-questions-answers\/\">common interview questions<\/a>, researched the company, and are ready to kill it during the job interview. And though what you say during an interview matters, what you <em>don\u2019t<\/em> say can matter even more.\n\n \n\n<strong>Your body language during an interview can make or break your chances<\/strong>. Here\u2019s what you need to know about positive and negative body language and how to use it to your advantage.\n\n \n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is Body Language?<\/h2>\n \n\nBody language, or nonverbal communication, is what we communicate to others without saying a word. It includes things like:\n\n \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n \t<li>Facial expressions: frowning, smiling, eye-rolling<\/li>\n \t<li>How we stand, sit, walk, tilt our head<\/li>\n \t<li>Gestures, like pointing or clapping<\/li>\n \t<li>Eye contact<\/li>\n \t<li>Touch<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nOur body language communicates our feelings and intentions. We can say we\u2019re curious, interested, bored\u2026you name it, without ever uttering a word!\n\n \n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Does Body Language Matter?<\/h2>\n \n\nBody language plays a vital role in our lives. Though we may say we\u2019re interested in something, the fact that we\u2019re rolling our eyes or staring at the ceiling indicates that we may feel otherwise.\n\n \n\nHaving nonverbal communications that match our verbal ones is essential. If what we say doesn\u2019t match our body language, people may think we aren\u2019t being honest about how we feel in a situation.\n\n \n\nAnd this is very relevant in an interview. Your answers to the hiring manager&#8217;s questions may say one thing, but your body language may tell a completely different story! If the two don\u2019t match up, the interviewer may have second thoughts about your application.\n\n \n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Positive Body Language<\/h2>\n \n\nSending the right message starts with using positive body language. Here are some <strong>nonverbal communication tips for before, during, and after the interview<\/strong>. What\u2019s more, these tips are useful for both in-person and virtual interviews.\n\n \n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dress Appropriately<\/h3>\n \n\nThe first nonverbal message you send starts with what you wear for the interview. While you don\u2019t have to go with a suit and tie, wearing flip-flops and shorts with holes could send the message that you aren\u2019t serious about the job.\n\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/what-to-wear-to-a-job-interview-choosing-the-right-interview-outfit\/\">Dressing appropriately<\/a> for the role and the industry says that you\u2019re serious about the job, the company, and your professional success.\n\n \n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don\u2019t Slouch<\/h3>\n \n\nSit and stand straight and tall. This includes before the interview (while you\u2019re in the waiting room), when you walk into the interview room, and during the interview. The same thing applies to a virtual interview. Sit (or stand) up straight!\n\n \n\nLeaning back or slouching gives the impression that you\u2019re too casual for a professional role or don\u2019t take the interview seriously. Sitting up and even leaning a little forward sends the message that you\u2019re serious about things and interested in what the interviewer has to say.\n\n \n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Greetings<\/h3>\n \n\nA firm handshake with a good grip (but not an iron one!) sends the message that you\u2019re confident and comfortable. Of course, a handshake may not always be appropriate or possible. In that case, a wave hello is an acceptable alternative, as long as you keep it small and close to your body (like a royal or pageant wave).\n\n \n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Look \u2018Em in the Eye<\/h3>\n \n\nThroughout the interview, maintain eye contact. This sends the message that you\u2019re listening to what the speaker is saying. However, you should break eye contact from time to time. Staring intently into the interviewer&#8217;s eyes the whole interview could send an entirely different message!\n\n \n\nDuring a virtual interview, maintaining appropriate eye contact is a little tricky. It\u2019s natural to want to look at the interviewer on your screen, but doing so means you likely aren\u2019t looking directly into your camera, which creates the illusion that you\u2019re not paying attention.\n\n \n\nThough many interviewers are used to this \u201cdistracted\u201d look in a virtual interview, when you\u2019re speaking, do your best to look at the camera, not the screen. It feels strange at first, but with some practice, you\u2019ll get used to it and maintain virtual eye contact like a seasoned pro.\n\n \n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sit Still<\/h3>\n \n\nWhile an interview isn\u2019t the time for you to pretend to be a statue, it\u2019s important not to fidget. Normal body motions are fine (think: shifting in your seat or crossing your other leg). But too much fidgeting (shifting your position every few seconds, touching your hair) is not.\n\n \n\nFidgeting during an interview sends the message that you&#8217;re nervous or don\u2019t want to be there (or that you need the bathroom!). Sit so your back is against the chair\u2019s back. If that\u2019s not possible, sit as far back as possible but still sit straight up and plant your feet firmly and flatly on the floor.\n\n \n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Control Your Hand Motions<\/h3>\n \n\nUsing your hands while you speak is normal. However, during an interview, be aware of how you\u2019re using your hands. Some motions can be a little too aggressive. Try not to punch or point to emphasize your words. If you gesture, keep the movement small and close to your body.\n\n \n\nIf you have trouble keeping your motions small, fold your arms and hands into your lap or keep them on the chair\u2019s arms. Or, hold a pen in one hand and a notepad in the other and take notes throughout the interview.\n\n \n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use Active Listening<\/h3>\n \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/smart-interview-listening\/\">Active listening<\/a> is when we, well, actively listen! This is especially important during an interview because it conveys that you\u2019re fully listening to the question, paying attention to, and engaging with what the speaker says.\n\n \n\nEspecially in a virtual interview, don\u2019t jump in when you <em>think<\/em> the interviewer is finished. Pause for a few seconds after they stop speaking to ensure they\u2019re actually done, not just taking a breath or thinking something over, then answer the question. The best part of this is that those few seconds give you some time to formulate your answer!\n\n \n\nAlso, make sure you\u2019re nodding and smiling while the interviewer speaks. This helps show you\u2019re listening and paying attention.\n\n \n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Negative Body Language to Avoid<\/h2>\n \n\nPositive body language sends the message that you\u2019re engaged and interested. Negative body language sends the exact opposite message. Try to avoid these negative nonverbal communications.\n\n \n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Too Much or Too Little Eye Contact<\/h3>\n \n\nThough eye contact is essential during an interview, too much eye contact can be threatening and may make the interviewer uncomfortable. Likewise, too little can send the message that you\u2019re nervous or disinterested.\n\n \n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nervous Behavior<\/h3>\n \n\nNo matter how nervous you are, don\u2019t let your body language send that message. Try to avoid:\n\n \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n \t<li>Removing lint from your clothes (that may not even be there)<\/li>\n \t<li>Readjusting your clothes<\/li>\n \t<li>Tapping your legs or feet or hands<\/li>\n \t<li>Clicking a pen repeatedly<\/li>\n \t<li>Large gestures<\/li>\n \t<li>Using a poker face<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \n\nThese negative nonverbal communications tell the interviewer you don\u2019t believe in yourself. And if you don\u2019t believe in yourself, why should they?\n\n \n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keep Your Hands to Yourself<\/h3>\n \n\nWhen you\u2019re in the interviewer&#8217;s office, don\u2019t touch anything unless it\u2019s offered. This includes the tempting candy dish on the desk! Touching things is an invasion of personal space and a nonverbal cue that could say, \u201cI don\u2019t respect boundaries.\u201d\n\n \n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Defensive Postures<\/h3>\n \n\nDefensive postures (like crossing your arms across your chest) send a message that you\u2019re closed off or on high alert for attacks. Keep your arms at your sides to send the message that you\u2019re open and relaxed or, at a minimum, comfortable.\n\n \n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Watching the Clock<\/h3>\n \n\nConstantly checking the time tells the interviewer that you\u2019ve got someplace else to be! Turn your phone off, don\u2019t look at your watch (if you wear one), and if there\u2019s a clock in the room, ignore it until the interview is over.\n\n \n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Shaking Your Head<\/h3>\n \n\nWhen you nod your head, you\u2019re nonverbally communicating that you agree with what the speaker is saying or acknowledging that you hear them. However, shaking your head sends the message that you disagree with them or that you don\u2019t want to hear what they have to say.\n\n \n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Positive Messaging<\/h2>\n \n\nThe interview is your chance to sell yourself as the right candidate for the role. And though your answers are important, your nonverbal messaging is just as crucial. Make sure you <strong>send a positive message throughout the interview process with your nonverbal communications to help you land the job<\/strong>.","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Perfecting your nonverbal communication is as important as knowing what to say. Here&#8217;s how to send the right message with your body language.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":87,"featured_media":23424,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"old-site-template.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[89,96,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interview-tips","category-informational-interviews","category-personal-branding"],"last_modified_at":"","edited_by":"Jessica Howington","acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4884","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/87"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4884"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4884\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25638,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4884\/revisions\/25638"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23424"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}