Watch your body language in interviews
Subconscious disconnect… On numerous occasions I would be interviewing a candidate, and have a strange sensation. While everything coming out of their mouth was in line with the position they were seeking, something didn’t stack up. They were saying one thing with their mouth, while something else completely different was being said with their body…
According to many psychologists and experts, body language can account for between 50 to 90 per cent of the messages you send during your interview. Therefore what can we do to make sure our verbal messaging is in line with our physical messaging?
Posture - Sit up and take genuine confidence from the fact that you have been selected ahead of numerous other candidates for this interview. Sitting up also keeps you alert and on top of your game during this stressful time. Hunching over or sitting on the edge of your chair gives the impression that you are anxious. Too relaxed indicates a careless attitude and an underlying arrogance that will be difficult to manage.
Hands and arms - Try not to fiddle with your hands as this can become a major distraction for the interviewer. Ideally, rest your hands on your lap or on the table. Also be aware of clicking pens. I was once reprimanded as a candidate for clicking a pen again and again during an interview. Finally try not to cross your arms as this can be seen as a defensive or ‘closing off ’ gesture, shutting the interviewer out.
Eye contact - Eye contact is very important. However, too much is unnerving and not enough portrays a lack of confidence. In some cultures, looking directly at a potential employer is a sign of disrespect, however, this will seriously damage your chances in New Zealand’s employment market if you are looking at the floor all the time. When you are answering a question, hold brief eye contact for three to four seconds before looking away briefly; then re-establish eye contact.
When listening to a person, establish longer eye contact, but look around every so often so you do not ‘stare them out’.
In panel interviews, give the person who asked you the question the most attention, shared with periodic glances to the other interviewers to ensure they feel included.
I was in a panel interview this week with seven other interviewers, and the candidate would only look at the person who asked the question during their answer. This made the rest of us feel unconnected to the candidate, until we finally got our turn to ask our own question.
Don’t freak out
Always remember that recruiters and interviewers are not robots who wish to ‘catch you out’. We actually want you to do well, thereby making our job easier during the selection process.
It’s impossible to have the perfect interview, so be okay with not getting your body language quite right here and there, any focus on the quality of your answer instead.
Contact Tom O’Neil and the team at CV.CO.NZ for a free CV assessment or to be your personal career coach.