7 Body language tips to help you ace your next job interview

Body Language: 7 Tips to help you ace your next job interview

Lim Han

20 Mar 2017

updated the 21 March 2017 à 14:45

Sit up straight and raise your heads, the big day is drawing near.

1/7
Have good posture
First impressions count, and it all begins with your posture. Stand tall and broaden your shoulders as you enter the room. This will not only emanate a positive energy, but will also give you a feeling of self-assurance. Regardless of how fearful you may be, the last thing you want is for your interviewers’ first impression of you to be a slouchy shriveled dwarf.
2/7
Give a firm handshake
Handshakes are more crucial than you think. Considering how this is the first and, probably, only physical contact you are going to have with your interviewer, you had better nail this. A limp hand resemblant of a dead fish is only going to send bad vibes to your interviewer. Make your handshake firm and sturdy. Most importantly, no sweaty hands, please.
3/7
Sit appropriately
Unless your interview is done standing up, you can’t neglect your sitting etiquette. Cross your legs or plant them firmly on the ground, keeping them at an appropriate distance from each other – not too wide like the Pacific Ocean but not too close either, like a rigid pair of chopsticks. Your sitting posture will contribute to your overall image and energy.
4/7
Smile
A smile makes all the difference. You want to appear like you’re enjoying yourself (even if your stomach is tied up in knots and your heart is lodged in your throat). This will radiate a good energy that your interviewer will notice right away. So, have no qualms about charming him/her with your luminous white teeth.
5/7
Be confident
Fake it till you make it. No matter how close you are to a nervous breakdown, mumbling uncertainly and wringing your hands in anxiety will not portray you in the best light. Speak with assertiveness and exude warmth. Besides, it’s not like your interviewers are ferocious tigers or fire-breathing dragons – there’s really no reason to be intimidated by them.
6/7
Maintain eye contact
This is a real struggle, we’re all aware of that. There’s just something quite disconcerting about looking a person in the eye, especially if he/she is a total stranger. But, we leave you with no choice. Maintaining steady eye contact with your interviewer ignites a connection between both parties and is a telling sign of a self-assured personality. Your interviewer is more likely to hire someone who is able to make confident eye contact than someone with fidgety eyes and a low-hanging head.
7/7
Make use of your hands
No one said you had to keep your hands glued to your lap or jailed under the table. Why not use them to make a point when you’re speaking? Appropriate hand gestures add life to your speech and show that you’re at ease. Just ensure that you avoid pointing directly at your interviewer and making dramatic hand motions.

Landing the job you’ve been pining after is, no doubt, one of the most jubilant occasions. But, before you can reach that summit, there’s one hill you have yet to conquer – the interview. Overlooking noxious pythons and feral crocodiles, we can all agree that few things top interviews in the fear department. Meeting complete strangers and having to impress them in a span of merely half an hour is no easy feat. If interviews were a sport, they would certainly be in the Olympics, given the level of skill and mental strength involved.

That said, with the right tips and tricks, nailing an interview is definitely not an insurmountable task. With sufficient preparation and the right body language, you’ll be securing the job in no time. We’ve rounded up 7 tips on how to ace your interview, focusing on the aspect of body language. Your body speaks louder than your mouth can, transmitting messages and emanating vibes and intentions you may think are well-hidden. Want to find out how you should behave during an interview? Head up to our gallery to get started.

Lim Han

Photos: Getty Images

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