Communication is a big part of our every day- life. It does not just consist of spoken language but also non verbal cues we give through our body postures and mannerisms. Our body language plays a huge role when it comes to communication, especially when we are at a job interview. Our body language has a huge impact on how others see us even before we start speaking. Here are some points you can keep in your mind before you walk into your next job interviews.
1. Be Mindful Of Your Entrance –
Walk into the venue with a confident demeanor. Pull your shoulders back and walk inside with a pleasant smile on your face. Walk in with confidence and grace. Slouched shoulders or a hurried walk is what you want to avoid. Reach your venue 5 minutes earlier to the time given to you but try not to be too early as it can put the HR team or the interviewer into an over-drive. They may have arranged for another interview prior to yours or could just have some prior commitment before. Reaching too early might give an impression of you intruding on their time.
2. Be Polite-
Be polite with whoever you come in contact with be it a receptionist to a peon. If you are going for a job interview at a big firm or company, chances are that you’ll be reporting first and foremost to the receptionist. Be polite and to the point in informing the receptionist of your arrival for the interview. If you are offered a glass of water accept it, as it helps the other person feel nice and make you seem like an open person.
3. Sit Correctly-
Whether you are made to wait outside at the reception or in a separate waiting room, be mindful of your posture and body language. Sitting with your shoulders hunched, you tapping your feet or cracking your knuckles gives an impression of you not being very confident. Sit with your spine straight with both your feet on the ground or one foot tucked behind the other. Looking around nervously or fidgeting with your fingers will give an impression of you being nervous. Instead try picking up a magazine or newspaper from the stand nearby or rehearse for the interview in your head.
4. Give A Pleasant Greeting or Handshake –
When inside the office greet you interviewer with a pleasant handshake. A handshake that’s too soft can give off an impression of you being very timid or weak. But be careful as to not make the handshake too hard as you don’t want to come off as arrogant hurting the interviewer in the process. If you happen to face a panel for the interview make brief eye contact with everyone while whishing them a ‘good morning’ with a smile and begin the interview.
5. Walk with Confidence and Grace –
The hiring manager or the panel will notice how you walk inside the office. Do not walk in looking at the ground or with your arms crossed as that would signify lack of confidence or a closed approach in your personality. While talking, maintain eye contact and avoid looking around as it would give an impression of you being distracted or worse; un-interested.
6. Be Poised and Authentic –
Have faith in your- self and the skills you have to offer for the job you are interviewing for. Be well prepared and maintain a calm demeanor. Do not smile too much or be dramatic in showing your enthusiasm for the job, as that can often seem as you are putting on a show and not being your authentic self. Be very clear in what it is that makes you gravitate towards the job/position you have applied for and how you can add value to the work with your skill set. Avoid using sitting too stiff or being too excited and giving wide eyed expressions as that can make the interviewer uncomfortable.
7. Be Completely Present in the Moment-
Interviews can be unnerving and oftentimes there is too much going on in our heads. Be super attentive and present in the moment when answering a question. The interviewer is looking for an answer that resonates with what the company is looking for and how the candidate in front of them can add value to the role applied for. Be very clear and specific to the question asked and avoid dragging on the answer.
8. Check your breathing –
Take a moment to breath and then answer the question asked. Talking too fast or being breathless while you talk will make you seem either in a hurry or very nervous.
9. Don’t be Afraid to Take Up Space –
You’ll be carrying a brief case or bag to hold your important documents in it. Keep that bag or briefcase on the side of where you are sitting. If there is a chair besides you keep it there or keep it on the floor at the side of the chair you are sitting on. Do not bend down to keep it beneath the chair you are sitting on; as it gives an impression that you are too restricted. It also gives an impression of being under- confident, that you are too afraid of taking up space.
10. Mind Your Exit –
Your walk out of the interview is as important as it was inside it. Thank your interviewer for their time and walk upright and confidently out. A slow walk with slumped shoulders will indicate that you think you’ve blown it. Even if the interview did not go as you expected it to, walk out with confidence and thank the receptionist on your way out. You might not get the job but you got the experience of the interview and you will be able to apply it in the future. The loss of opportunity should not show a loss of courtesy in us by any means.
TANYA CHOPRA
