THE 3 MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF INTERVIEW BODY LANGUAGE

​In our previous blog post, “8 Tips for Tackling a Group Interview,” we addressed intangible aspects of the interview process, including body language.

In this blog post, we’re going to elaborate more on the topic of body language.

Body language is important because you want to project an air of confidence. Companies want to hire people who both appear confident and are confident.

In addition, company officials are interviewing you not only for your skills and experience, but also in regards to whether or not they would enjoy working with you. They need to be assured of the fact that you would fit in well with the company culture, and your body language helps them to make that decision.
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Taking all of that into consideration, below are the three most important aspects of body language during the face-to-face interview:
#1—Facial expressions
As you might have guessed, interviewers prefer candidates who smile versus those who don’t (and especially those who frown). Keep in mind that your facial expressions should change to reflect the mood of the conversation. However, your “default expression” should include a smile, if possible, as well as a look of interest, alertness, and enthusiasm.
#2—Head movements
First and foremost, your head should be held erect during the interview, and it should not be stiff or in a position that makes you appear disinterested or sleepy. Second, keep your hands away from your face or neck, especially when it comes to touching those areas. Last but not least, nodding your head in agreement communicates positive affirmation and understanding in a non-verbal way and also encourages those talking to continue their dialogue.
#3—Eye contact
This is perhaps the most important aspect of body language. First and foremost, it’s important to maintain five to 10 seconds of eye contact when you meet a person for the first time. (Of course, eye contact in combination with a genuine smile would be optimal.) Then it’s crucial to be consistent with your eye contact throughout the duration of the interview. It conveys confidence, a high self-image, and credibility.
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It’s not just what you say during the face-to-face interview that’s important, it’s how you say it . . . and what your body language conveys while you say it.