Did you know that your body language could make or break your job interview—before you even say a word? According to Psychology Today, it actually takes just seven seconds for us to form an opinion of someone else. Business News Daily also highlights that body language is far more important than verbal cues like words or tone of voice. If you walk into your interview with your head down and without a smile, it can be difficult for the interviewer to shake off their first opinion of you.
We know that this isn’t ideal, as most of us feel very anxious when we go to a job interview. Sweaty palms, shaking hands, and a racing heart are feelings we have all experienced when going to an interview, so it can be very tough to walk in with our shoulders up and a big warm smile on our faces.
To try and help you make the best possible first impression and give off warm, positive signals in your interview, we have put together a checklist of great body language tips to use in your interview.
5 Body Language Tips to Make a Great First Impression in Interviews
1.Smile
A warm, natural smile when you first enter the room or log into a video call helps create an instant connection with your interviewer.
Remember to smile throughout the interview when the topic is appropriate and relate to what the interviewer is saying. Make sure to end the interview with a big smile and a “thank you” for all their time.
2.Fidgeting and Distractions
Turn your phone or smart watch off or on to “do not disturb” before your interview. Even if they don’t make a noise, a vibrating phone or watch can distract you when you are in the flow of answering a question. If you keep fidgeting or glancing at your watch or phone it might also put your interviewer on edge.
Knee jiggling, leg shaking and any other fidgety movements are common other things to watch out for that could distract your interviewer.
3. Arm Movements
Keep your arms by your side and your shoulders up to convey a relaxed and open posture. According to Forbes, having your arms crossed can make you look defensive and closed off, so relaxing your arms to your side will make you appear more relaxed and approachable.
4.Eye Contact
Make sure to hold eye contact with your interviewer to build trust and convey interest in what they are saying. However, you don’t want to appear to be staring and make your interviewer feel uncomfortable, so make sure to break eye contact from time to time and when it feels natural.
5. Hand Gestures
Many of us speak with our hands and it can be a great way to indicate that you are interested and invested in a conversation. It is also important to remember not to point at the interviewer or use aggressive hand movements.
We hope these 5 body language tips to make a great first impression in Interviews will help you perform well in your next interview.
Want more interview tips? Check out our resources page or blog page for expert advice.
Looking for your next opportunity? Browse our latest job openings and put these tips into practice!
