Body Language:
You need a secret weapon when you go out on a job interview and that weapon
could well be body language.
Body language, a combination of your gestures and your posture, actually
communicates more about what you really mean than the words you say. Here are
some simple ways to use your body language to project yourself positively during
your interview.
Use your body language to project confidence.
Stand up straight, shake hands firmly and look the interviewer in the eye when
you talk or they are talking. Always maintain eye-to-eye contact.
Do not sit with your legs crossed. It can make you look slightly lopsided, which
can create an impression of diffidence. Sit straight up in the chair, facing
your interviewer directly. Crossed legs can also appear defensive.
Do not cross your arms across your chest. You may feel comfortable sitting that
way, but studies show that your interviewer will read this as being defensive.
Use 'affiliation body language': A classic 'affiliation signal' is nodding and
tilting your head to the side when the interviewer is making an important point,
a tactic which should make the interviewer instantly feel warmer towards you.
No matter how nervous you are, try to avoid hand-to-face gestures such as
touching your nose or rubbing your eyes, which can be read as, 'you are trying
to conceal something'.