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Body Language in Job Interviews
Body language provides a key to succeeding in job interviews. Non-verbal cues make up 60% to 80% of face-to-face communication. Your physical presence shows your strengths as a candidate more than your words.
Body language helps indicate whether an applicant is fit for the job. However, in the digital world, Zoom interviews lack the physical cues that are present in live interactions.
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1. Eye Contact
Maintaining eye contact is one of the most important body language cues that you can give. Maining eye contact reflects confidence where even research indicates that high status people tend to look longer at people they're talking to than lower status people do.
Remember to be generous with your eye contact. Always look at people, not anywhere else. During video interviews, look directly into the webcam and sit close enough to the camera to initiate conversational rapport.
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2. A Warm Smile
Having a warm and engaging smile is another important aspect of body language during a job interview.
When you meet your interviewer, show a warm smile because after all, you will be judged by your ability to connect with people.
Practice having an "inner smile" because that refelcts genuine enjoyment and empathy. It's the kind of smile that makes people want to smile as well.
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3. Open Gestures
Companies look for people that have soft skills -- basically meaning individuals who are empathetic and comfortable with others. Making open gestures convey those qualities, but how do we achieve openness?
- Gesture with your full arm in the direction of your interviewer
- Never cross or fold your arms as you will look defensive and closed
- Avoid awkward gestures by tucking your elbows in your body
- Avoid wrist gestures that suggest nervousness; and
- Keep your hands open
Open gestures show others that you can buld rapport and that you are comfortable with yourself.
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4. Face Your Audience
When talking to a person, you don't turn your back against them but rather face them. This body language shows respect and suggest that you are both aligned.
During an interview, whether in-person or virtually, make sure your body is positioned so that you are fully facing your interviewer, this will make the interviewer feel that you are fully committed to what the two of you are discussing.
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5. Cultivate Stillness
"Stillness is power"
This does not mean that you should be stiff and avoid making any gestures at all, but more so like touching your face, fixing your hair, or fidgeting.
These unnecessary movements are like nervous ticks that can convey the impression that you are not at ease with the interview.
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6. Good Posture
The final way of demonstrating strength and confidence is with having good posture.
People who feel disengaged at a meeting or who believe they have little to add often slouch. So by having good posture by sitting or standing tall, you're demonstrating stature.
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IDEAS CURATED BY
Jasper Y.'s ideas are part of this journey:
Learn more about career with this collection
How to build confidence
How to connect with people on a deeper level
How to create a positive first impression
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