TEN JOB INTERVIEW BODY LANGUAGE TIPS

You’ve scrubbed up, brushed your hair, pressed your clothes, shined your shoes and off you go to your interview.

Hold it! Have you checked the interview address? You were invited to interview at 11.00 am but where?

Many companies have several offices in a city so always double check the exact location. Just because the HQ is in the city centre doesn’t necessarily mean the interview will be held there.

So you arrive at the correct address, confident and have read through your CV again and again you know every detail of your career history and skill sets.

There is no reason why you shouldn’t make a success of the interview except for one thing,  your job interview body language.

Your job interview body language can tell a lot about you and if your general demeanour does not emit the right message then all your preparation could be for nothing.

It all starts the moment you walk into the office. The person in reception could be a friend of one of your interviewers, so manner and politeness starts there.

Here are my top ten job interview body language tips;

TOP TEN JOB INTERVIEW BODY LANGUAGE TIPS

1. Walk smartly, enter with a smile and announce yourself. If it’s a cold day and you arrive with a coat, hat, scarf, gloves and a bag, get rid of the lot and ask if it’s OK to leave them in reception. Better still leave the lot in your car if possible. Undressing all this gear at an interview creates a silence that you want to avoid.

2. Address your interviewers by name and shake hands with each. Look them in the eye as you do so and smile as you speak. Remember as part of your interview preparation you should have found out who will be interviewing you.

3. You will be asked to take a seat. Should it be a small distance from the interviewers pull it towards them as you speak so you are closer and can get better eye contact.

4. When seated sit up straight, no slouching.

5. If offered tea or coffee politely say no but if you really need a drink, take a glass of water. Then, don’t keep nervously sipping at it; take a drink and leave it.

6. Do not ever sit with your arms folded, it’s defensive.

7. When answering a question say it with a smile and look from one person to another as you speak. Try to include everyone in your answers.

8. When asked a question never repeat the question. Doing so suggests you are surprised by the question or you don’t have an immediate answer to the question. You’re buying time.

9. If you wear glasses, wear them. Do not repeatedly take them off and on.

10. When the interview is over, shake hands with a smile, thank them for their time and leave smartly.

Walk straight and tall, be confident and polite, not confident and smart. Articulate clearly your career history in a clear and simple fashion and with a smile. Confidence will only come with having total recall of all the work you have done and your achievements from the past.