For any job interview, hiring managers look for more than just your credentials. Like they say, “What you don’t say tells more about you than what you do.” Body language is important and not just for your behaviour during the interview. The interviewer can gauge you as a person and your personality based on little body actions that you might not even be aware of.
This is what interviewers wouldn’t want you to be doing.
1. Posture
Posture is perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind when appearing for an interview. If you slump, it gives off signals that you’re low on self-confidence and it also places too much pressure on your diaphragm, leading you to not project your voice clearly enough. Leaning back too much also isn’t advised. It gives an impression that you are very laid back and perhaps even over-confident, according to public speaking experts.
2. Gaze
Maintaining eye contact is considered to be a subtle art among interviewer circles. There are a few pointers you should take here.
Stare too much, and you not only creep the interviewer out, but it also suggests that you’re invading into his/her personal space. Look away a lot, and it breaks the interviewer’s trust in you. Also, upward eye movements suggest a dishonest/untruthful behaviour.
3. Fidgeting
Fidgeting puts off most hiring managers. It shows a lack of preparation and confidence. A survey showed that every year, 26% of applicants get rejected because of their fidgeting habits. Fidgeting doesn’t mean only being uncomfortable with yourself. Playing with objects on the table, scratching or fixating at any spot in between the interviewer and yourself and doesn’t give a good impression.
4. Hands
Hand gestures and placement of arms is also very important when it comes to appearing for an interview. Keeping your arms crossed across your chest gives off a vibe that you’re uninviting and hence less trusting. If you also keep your hands behind your back, it looks that you are reserved and defensive and can result in lowering of the interviewer’s confidence in you.
5. Expression
Expression is the most crucial part of any interaction. And even more so for an interview. Interviewers expect you to change your expressions according to the what you talk about. Keeping a deadpan expression or a single face all the time might give off a negative impression to the hiring manager. Smiling at regular intervals helps.
6. Excessive nodding
During a conversation, you tend to agree to a point or place emphasis on an explanation, which leads you to nodding your head. Too much nodding will put the interviewer off and will make you look like an idiot.
7. Face touching
Touching your face, like running your hands through your hair, or wiping sweat from the face, or excessive scratching is also a sign of lack of confidence and preparation for the interview. Coupled with eye movements, it can be also be thought of that you are lying, which again places a negative impression in the eyes of the hiring manager.
Avoid these mistakes and you’re good to go!