Remember that saying “A picture is worth a thousand words”? Turns out it isn’t just about photographs and essays. “People believe what they see over what they hear,” explains Dr. Linda Martin, Coordinator of the Communication Program at Louisiana Tech University. “Facial expressions and gestures account for 55% of meaning.” Make sure you’re sending the right message when you interview for a job by taking this crash course in body language:
Be prepared. The best way to show positive body language at an interview is to be “natural, comfortable and confident,” says Martin. “It seems counterintuitive, but the best way to look natural is to practice.” Read a book or two about interviewing and then run through the entire interview process with a friend. Come up with a few interview questions to ask in advance.
Start strong. The interview starts the moment you step into the room. Walk in tall, with a smile on your face. Make sure your hand is free, and offer it to the interviewer. Make the handshake strong and firm, pumping hands once or twice, then release. A weak handshake and bone-crushers can both leave a negative impression. Don’t be afraid to practice shaking hands before your interview.
The interviewer will usually offer you a chair. If not, go to the chair across from him or her and ask if it alright to sit. “Use the entire chair,” suggests Harry Marín, a retired executive from such companies as Pueblo Supermarkets and the Puerto Rico Telephone Company. “If you’re sitting on the edge, you’re going to look nervous and uncomfortable.”
Be an active listener. “Forget about your feet, forget about the windows. Dedicate yourself to the interviewer,” says Marín. Don’t stare the interviewer down, but do maintain eye contact. Examples of proper body language include leaning forward, nodding and smiling when appropriate. Not only will you look interested, but it’ll probably be easier to pay attention, and to notice the interviewer’s nonverbal cues to you.
What if you’re being interviewed by a group of people? Marín recommends to “talk directly to the person that’s asking the question. Once you have fully answered the question to that individual, then look at the other interviewers. You shouldn’t ignore any of the people who are interviewing, but you should give priority to the person who’s asking the question.”
Expressing yourself with your hands is -- gestures show energy and passion. However, a low-key interviewer might be overwhelmed by too much hand waving, so tone it down if need be.
Be calm. Jiggling legs. Jangling key. Twirling hair. Glancing at your watch. All of these are examples of bad body language. Bottom line: fidgeting makes you look nervous and distracted, so don’t do it. Don’t even tempt yourself by having anything unnecessary in your hands (or your mouth or wrist!) Keep your feet flat on the floor (or at most, cross your ankles). This not only cuts down on restless legs, but helps you sit straighter.
Read the interviewer. You want the interviewer to be doing the same things you are – maintaining eye contact, nodding, smiling, leaning forward or sitting relaxed. If the interviewer is leaning sideways, fiddling with things, or not responding with facial cues, there’s a good chance you’re losing him. To turn the interview back around, Martin recommends “remember the last time you had them engaged and return to that subject or ask them a question.”
Finish strong. The questions were brutal. The interviewer scowled the entire time. The job wasn’t what you thought it would be. No matter. Finish the interview the way you started it – with energy and confidence. Shake hands while you thank the interviewer for the opportunity, and walk away with your shoulders back and head high. You never know what’s going to happen – maybe the interviewer is always in a bad mood, maybe some other job will open up. You’ll never regret leaving a good impression.
No matter what happens, an interview is an opportunity to learn. At the end, ask yourself what you did right and how you could improve. Next time around, you just might get asked “When can you start?” Good luck!
