7 Body Language Tricks For Nailing Your Job Interview

7 Body Language Tricks For Nailing Your Job InterviewIn a phone interview, you could be wearing your favorite pajamas while kicking back in your easy chairno one would be the wiser. However, in an in-person interview, your demeanor is part of the package. Your interviewer is evaluating you just as much as your resume and your answers, so being aware of what youre putting across is an essential part of interview prep. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Here are 7 body language strategies to help you keep calm under the hot lights of interview scrutiny and project your best self.1. Stretch it out.When youre getting dressed and ready to go, take a few minutes to stretch your muscles and do some deep breathing. If youre like me and have jitters before every interview, no matter how prepared you feel, this can help your mind focus and de-stress. The stretching keeps your muscles from being too tense when you get to the interview, which might mak e youcome off as stiff and awkward.2. Smile Youre on stage.When you arrive, be koranvers to smile at whoever greets you first and at your interviewer(s). If you feel like your toothiest grin is pasted to your face, maybe dial it back a bit. Its okay to show a little bit of teeth (it makes the smile seem mora genuine), but no one feels reassured by a mouth full of bared teeththat one goes back all the way to our prehistoric ancestors. Also make sure youre involving your eyes studies have shown that crinkling your eyes up just a little has a warm and welcoming effect to the recipient. Try to have a polite, easy smile for everyone you meet it shows youre happy to be there and enthusiastic about the opportunity.3. Your handshake brings all the boys to the yard.via zimbio.comAccording to 30 Rocks Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin), handshakefulness is one of the pillars of business achievement. And while you may not want to base your career strategies around Liz Lemon and company, Jack is right . Your handshake matters It should be medium-firm (no death grip to show how strong you are, sorry), with eye contact between you and the shake-ee. Too strong, and you come off as aggressive. Too weak, and you seem nervous and unconfident.4. Listen to your moms advice dont slouch.Weve become pretty casual as a society, whichoften extends to the workplace. Relaxed dress codes and flexible work arrangements are common behauptung days. But in an interview, while you dont want to be stiff and awkward, you should definitely err on the side of formality. Always sit up as straight as you can, with shoulders lowered and squared. You might have heard that pushing your shoulders back is the best way to approach posture in an important settingbut that can often have the effect of thrusting out your chest, which can seem provocative or confrontational.5. Keep those limbs loose.As for your arms, those can be awkward. Should you hold them straight and rigid at your side at all times? (Nope.) Gest ure wildly to illustrate every point? (Try again.) Keep them bent slightly at the elbow and resting gently at your sides? (Bingo.) If it feels awkward keeping your arms down or youre prone to fidgeting, clasp your hands loosely in front of you, either in your lap or on the table. Its important to stay loose, because seeming too tightly coiled can make you look small and retreating. Too loose, and it seems like youre not taking the interview seriously. The best bet is to adjust your arms as the conversation ebbs and flows, but have the default position be resting casually at your sides.For legs, crossed confidently at the knee is the way to go. If you cross your legs at the ankles, that can give your lower half a downward slope and ruin the good work youve done with your overall posture.6. Keep your head up.If you have relaxed, confident body language below the neck, youll want to make sure your head is in the game as well. As with the arms and sitting posture, dont tighten up too mu ch and stare straight ahead. The most professional-seeming head posture is keeping your chin tilted slightly sideways and up. This makes it look like youre listening (which, ideally, you are), and that youre confident but not aggressive. Tilting your chin straight up and out can look like youre challenging the interviewer or reacting stubbornly.Also, know ahead of time whether youre prone to unconscious facial tics like blinking too much when youre nervous or licking your lips. Practice interview questions in the mirror, and try to keep those habits under control as youre speaking. These can undermine your confident image.7. Sound as good as you look.When youre preparing for your interview, practice your interview voice. This probably isnt the time to demonstrate the new British accent youve been working on, but rather an extra-steady version of your regular voice. Try smiling slightly when you talkit gives your voice an open, confident quality. Even if youre nervous, try not to let your voice waver or decrease in volumethat undermines the self-assured vibe youre trying to convey.Taking the time to practice unterstellung beforehand will make them so much easier to achieve when it comes time for the interview. You know youre ready to rock this opportunity dont let your body slow you down