7 Ways To Use Positive Body Language To Ace A Job Interview

Positive body language essential, especially during a job interview.

Your body language needs to convey an air of confidence, interest and readiness to work. These are seven tips you can use to maximize the effectiveness of your interview body language and help you land your next job.

1. Keep your head up

The first tip for grabbing your interviewer’s attention is to keep your head up at all times. The interviewer’s first impression will come the moment you walk through the door. You should have your head up because it shows that you have confidence in who you are and what you have to offer. Self-confidence is a highly desirable quality, so you want to show your prospective employer that you have plenty of it.

2. Shake your interviewer’s hand

The handshake is still one of the most effective ways of grabbing hold of your potential employer’s interest. A nice, firm handshake can establish trust between you and the interviewer in the first few seconds before your interviewer starts. It speaks volumes about your sincerity and your desire to create a business friendship with the employer. Make sure your hands are clean and lightly moisturized before your interview. Moisturizing your hands will express to the interviewer that you pay attention to detail, and you care about going the extra mile. Furthermore, you should shake the interviewer’s hand once more before you leave the interview. That may work to seal the deal and keep your image in that person’s mind after you leave.

3. Keep your eyes on the prize

The eyes are the gateway to your soul. They can tell a lot about your confidence, interest and self-image. Looking down during your interview is forbidden unless you’re looking at your resume to answer a question about your work history. You must keep your eyes on the interviewer at all times during the interview. Keeping your eyes focused lets the person know that you have a healthy attention span and that you are giving him or her your full attention. Additionally, eye contact ensures that you are not afraid of the opportunity that may come to you through the process. It shows strength and courage, which are two much-needed qualities on the job site.

4. Show excitement in your eyes

Your eyes can also relay your motivation and your level of contentment about what the employer is offering you. You can open your eyes to show positive excitement as your prospective employer discusses the history of the business, business achievements or even employee benefits. A quick eye lift can speak 1,000 words about how excited you will be to become a part of the new team.

5. Smile as you speak

You always hear that you should smile during your interview, and it’s with good reason. Your smile shows that you are a friendly and sociable people person who loves life and wants to shed light on the world. It’s paramount that you show your lovely smile to the interviewer, but not just when you first walk in. You should also smile while you answer questions and talk to the person about the job. Add a little smile as the interviewer talks to you, as well. Most prospective employers would love to add a pleasant person to their roster of employees.

6. Maintain excellent posture

Posture is important because it gives a potential employer a preview of your motivation. Sitting in the interview chair slouched down will give the potential employer the image of a sluggish future employee. This person will be looking for someone who is upright with his or her chin up and chest outward. Exhibiting perfect posture will go a long way because it will paint you as a healthy and attentive person. You may want to hold a mock interview with someone you know and practice your posture, smiles and gestures. One of the best ways to see yourself in action is to use a wireless security camera and hold the interview in a place where you can record yourself. Replay it and then find areas where you need to work on so that you can be well prepared when you get there.

7. Lean into your interviewer’s words

The last tip is to use your body to lean into the interviewer’s words. Move your body forward a bit while your interviewer is talking to you to let him or her know that you’re hanging on every word. Prospective employers always pay attention to whether their prospective employees pay attention. The lean lets this person know that nothing is distracting you during the meeting, and it sends a positive communication vibe.

Review these seven tips and use them during your next interview. Try to find an opportunity to use all of them because the mix might set you apart from the rest of the applicants. Good luck and remember to follow up after your interview.

If you found these positive body language tips useful then feel free to share this article with your friends and family. After all, sharing is caring!

Main image credit: pexels.com