Chances are you have never thought much about your body language and the role it plays in whether or not you get a job. More often than not, we prepare for the job interview by doing our research on the company, going through a few interview questions and answers and making sure we are well presented and on time. What we forget is the big role that our body language plays in the interview. If you ask for honest feedback from someone about your body language after an interview, you may be rather shocked with how you come across. You may fiddle, talk excessively with your hands, twitch and so on. We all have little idiosyncrasies that can be our undoing when under the spotlight – and these are often exacerbated when we are under stress and intense pressure to secure employment quickly. Often we are not aware of the messages or emotions our body language is sending, and even if we are it can be difficult to cover up.
Experienced interviewers are very good at reading body language. They can frequently pick up when a candidate is lying, stressed, unsure, lacking confidence and so on. Being nervous is one thing that is factored in by interviewers, however candidates are not forgiven when they come across as lacking confidence or focus, desperate or intense; which of course can lessen your chances of being hired!
| Body Language | Common Interpretation |
| Avoiding eye contact | Evasive, indifferent, insecure, passive, nervous |
| Scratching the head | Bewildered |
| Biting the lip | Nervous, fearful, anxious |
| Tapping feet | Nervous |
| Folding arms | Angry, disagreeing, defensive, disapproving |
| Raising eyebrows | Disbelieving, surprised |
| Narrowing eyes | Resentful, angry |
| Wringing hands | Anxious, nervous |
| Shifting in seat | Restless, bored, apprehensive |
Creating positive body language
• Make a confident entrance – carry yourself upright and proudly
• Initiate the handshake where possible
• Be conscious of your posture, sit upright
• Hold your head up high
• Have a positive attitude and speak using powerful and positive words
• Make and maintain eye contact during the interview
• Smile where appropriate
• Use silence frequently; take time to gather your responses
• Talk in a calm manner
• Avoid fidgeting and excessive arm and hand gestures for example biting the lip, finger or feet tapping or folding arms
You can learn more about successful interviewing in the Six Figures Job Interview Resources area.
We invite you to share your tips for being interviewed and how to create positive body language.
