What Your Body Language Says About You During an Interview

Using body language to make a great impressing during an interview.

Job interviews are almost always stressful. I've often said that looking for a job is a whole lot like dating, and the interview is similar to a first date. Basically, you have to sit down with someone you don't know and tell them who you are and why they should care. Then, you have to make them like you.

I think that a job interview may actually be more stressful than a first date, because on the date at least you and the other person have the same agenda. Both of you are nervous and trying to impress the other. In an interview however, the employer has the upper hand and they aren't nervous about making a good impression on you.

This type of power disparity is what makes interviews so uncomfortable. Without even realizing it, your discomfort and nervousness comes through in your body language. If you want to make the best impression and present yourself as someone who is enthusiastic, calm and likeable, it's important to manage the information your body language broadcast.

Here are the most common was your body communicates how comfortable you are:

Positive:

Leaning toward the other person.

Uncrossed arms or legs.

Long periods of eye contact.

Looking down and away.

Real smiles.

Negative:

Leaning away or moving further away.

Crossed arms.

Feet pointed toward the exit.

Rubbing or scratching eyes, nose or back of neck.

Before your next interview, practice using body language to convey a message of comfort and excitement. The most important thing you can do is start off on the right note by greeting the interviewer with a genuine smile, a nice handshake and a warm greeting. This way, you can become comfortable quickly and not have to worry about how your nerves are expressing themselves non-verbally.

If you still find yourself displaying some of the mannerisms on the negative list, don't worry too much, most interviewers expect that you will be nervous. In fact, if you were completely comfortable, the interviewer might even wonder if you were taking the interview seriously.

Just remember that when it comes right down to it, there is only so much you can do to impress a potential employer – the rest is up to them. All you can do is be prepared, try to get comfortable at the beginning and keep an eye out for any negative body language you may be displaying.

What do you think about body language? Do you frequently use any of the gestures on the lists? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for HealthcareJobsiteBlog and Beyond.com.. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

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10 Ways To Raise Your Chances Of Landing The Job You Really Want

Everyone wants to raise their chances of standing out from the pack and landing the job. Here are 10 ways to be a better candidate.

The job market is starting to turn around, but it is still an employers market out there. For every job opening that gets posted, there are hundreds of applicants. So, how can you raise your odds of standing out among such a large group of professionals?

There are several things you can do to be a better candidate. Some of them are fairly easy, while others might take a little more work. But if you are serious about finding the job your really want, here are 10 things that you can do to gain a competitive edge:

1. Practice public speaking – How difficult this one is depends on how comfortable you are with speaking in public right now. If the thought of it causes you to sweat and feel like you might be sick, then you will have a little bit more work to do. A good public speaker exudes a capable confidence. You can look for books on public speaking techniques at your local library, and if you look around, you may be able to find classes or workshops that can give you more hands on help.
   
   
2. Know what you want, and what you're willing to accept – You aren't going to be able to find a job that will give you everything you ever wanted. There are going to be some compromises, it's just a fact of life. Make a list of the things you absolutely have to have and then decide what things you are willing to compromise on, and how much. This will give you confidence when negotiating things like salary or benefits.
   
   
3. Create a website – Add a link to your website on your resume and your business card. This way, if the employer wants to find out more about you, they can easily access the information. Keep you page simple and professional, remember that they could be looking at your site to determine if they want to invite you to interview.
   
   
4. Be enthusiastic – This one doesn't take time or money, it just takes a positive attitude. Enthusiasm is catchy, and your interviewer won't be able to help being a little happier after having met an enthusiastic candidate like you.
   
   
5. Update your resume – Do a web search on what a new resume looks like. The format has changed a whole lot over the past 5 years or so. Now, the resume is a marketing tool. Make sure your resume shows that you are current on the latest business trends.
   
   
6. Practice, Practice, Practice – Before your interview, you should practice answering interview questions in front of your friends and family or even a webcam. Role-playing the interview with a partner is a great way to be more confident during the interview.
   
   
7. If you are overqualified or are taking a step down, address it in the cover letter – For some reason, it seems that many people think that the employer will understand that they are willing to take a lower level position. The truth is that unless you address the fact that you are overqualified and give a brief reason for it, you resume is probably not even going to be read.
   
   
8. Copy your interviewer's body language – This is one of those tricky things that actually work. It you want to create stronger rapport, mimic the interviewer's body language. When then lean in, you lean in. This is a psychological technique called mirroring, and it is shown to increase trust.
   
   
9. Smile – Especially during a phone interview. When you get ready to pick up the phone for a scheduled interview, smile big before you say hello. If you have to, place a mirror near you so you can make sure you are smiling throughout the call. When you smile, people can hear it in your voice and it makes you instantly more like-able.
   
   
10. Don't be afraid to fail – It happens to all of us at some point of another. If you never fail, it is because you never really take a risk. You may not get offered the job, but it's good practice for the next interview.

What do you think about these easy tips for increasing your odds of landing the job you really want? Let me know in the comments.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for HealthcareJobsiteBlog. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

What Does Your Body Language Say About You?

One of the ways that we all communicate is through our body language. In fact, a study by UCLA revealed that we receive over 55% of information through body language alone. Given that fact, it is important to think about your what your body language says about you during an interview. Preparing for your interview is important, and equally important is learning to control your body language in order to be sure that you are making the best impression.

Here are some tips for good interview body language:

• The handshake- Giving a good handshake is important. Most men know this, but there are still many women who are reluctant to offer their hand for a handshake. A good handshake is firm but not overly gripping. Generally, a good handshake follows this formula- A firm grasp, two pumps and release. Don't hold the handshake longer than a few seconds, but always follow the other persons lead. A good handshake shows that you are a professional and that you mean business.
  
  
• Don't cross your arms or legs- Crossing or folding your arms is often an aggressive gesture. Even in situations where it may not be interpreted as such, it still reflects a closed attitude. Crossing your legs, for men, is also a closed off position. For women, crossing legs at the knee is habit but you may want to try to cross them at the ankle during the interview.
  
  
• Don't fidget- This one is the hardest. When you are nervous, it is natural to fidget. Fidgeting can be a sign of nervousness and insecurity. If you catch yourself doing this during an interview, try your best to stop. To an interviewer, fidgeting is distracting and makes you seem less trustworthy, exactly the opposite of what you want.
  
  
• Pay attention to your chair- In an office environment, many times the interviewer will only have chairs that are extras in the office. That means that they may have wheels and be swivel chairs. Be careful that you don't rock or swivel in the chair. When you are nervous and anxious, it is so easy to do this but it gives a bad impression. Especially if the chair is a little squeaky, this sort of behavior can drive an interviewer nuts.
  
  
• Notice the interviewer's body language- Are they leaning in slightly when they are talking to you? Do they seem interested? Use their body language as a guide to the formality of the interview.
  
  
• Deal with interruptions- If the interviewer is interrupted by a phone call or someone in the office, the polite thing to do is to look away from them and the phone or person. This type of body language signifies that you are giving them privacy to deal with the interruption. Actively paying attention to what they are doing can make you seem nosy.
  
  
• Smile- A smile is the best way to communicate enthusiasm and positivity. No matter how badly you need the job, how nervous you are or how anxious you are about the interview going well, be sure to take a deep breath and smile.

When you pay attention to your body language, you have more control over how you are being perceived. It is hard sometimes when you feel that you have so much riding on a meeting or interview, but it is definitely worth taking the time to consider. Watch other professionals and pay attention to how they use their body to make a point and think of how you can do it as well.

Are you looking for a job in the Philadelphia Area? Take a look at PhillyJobs.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.