How To Use Body Language To Make a Good First Impression

It’s said that body language makes the biggest impact on the meaning of the message, followed by the tone of voice, and finally, by the words themselves. This holds true particularly in job interviews, where the first few minutes you spend with a potential employer can spell the success or failure of your application. If this were not so, employers would be hiring applicants merely on the strength of their resumes or test results. It’s thus vital to make a favourable first impression. 

What is body language?

Body language is a non-verbal form of communication that involves physical behaviour, expressions, and mannerisms. These actions are usually done instinctively rather than consciously. Understanding body language is fundamental in the job search process.

How can this impact your success in job hunting?

Non-verbal cues show a lot of positive and negative impressions. Employers can tell a lot from a candidate's body language in interviews. How you present yourself, speak, and engage is a big part of a successful job interview.

Learning about body language and what to avoid in interviews can also be a powerful tool for your career growth. When you are familiar with non-verbal communication, you can interpret social cues. You can utilise it in building relationships that can help with your professional networking skills.

Many job interviews are being conducted virtually these days. Body language becomes even more essential when being interviewed virtually, especially if you’re at home where things are most comfortable for you. You may be too relaxed or unfocused to make a good first impression for a formal interview. Be aware of what your body is doing while you are on video. Is your image clear? Are you leaning in too much? Where are your elbows? Are you gesturing with your hands too much? All these little nuances convey a message to your interviewer about your personality.

(Read more: 10 Best Online Interview Tips to Help You Land a Job)

Types of body languages

Even if you are coming off as confident and capable in your answers, your body language could be sending a different message. Whether attending an in-person interview or doing it virtually, impress your interviewers and optimise your work opportunities with the job interview tips.

Experts say it only takes seven seconds to make a first impression. You need to know the different body language types to use them effectively. You may have confidence in your answers, but your body language may be sending a different message. Whether the interview is face-to-face or virtual, you should always optimise your environment to your benefit. 

Practising isn’t only beneficial during employment interviews; it will also help you communicate better with coworkers and superiors. Here are the types of body languages you should be aware of and also practise. 

Facial expressions

You can tell a person’s thoughts and emotions through their facial expression. It is a human thing to do and encompasses different cultures. Subtle movements of your face may show your interest and how you participate in the conversation.

Microexpressions, or facial expressions you unconsciously do, can translate differently to an interviewer. 

Some examples of these are the following:

• Raising eyebrows – displays interest and participation
• Lip pursing – shows hesitation or disapproval
• Rapid blinking – may suggest distress or discomfort
• Clenched jaw – indicates anger and anxiety
• Smirking – communicates uncertainty or arrogance

Pro Tip: Sometimes, you have the type of face that unintentionally looks annoyed or angry even when relaxed or not showing any emotion. Resting Bitch Face (RBF) has been validated by a number of scientists. If you think you have this issue, be aware of it, especially when conducting important meetings and interviews. Attempt a small, open smile to make you look more approachable. 

Posture

How you hold your body indicates a lot about your personality. A strong posture will not only make you look more confident, but it can also help you feel more confident. Posture is also a strong indicator of whether or not the person is interested in the conversation. 

If you tend to slouch, it may convey a casual attitude, which is inappropriate for a job interview. Sitting up straight gives an automatic signal of confidence and reliability. This is also particularly applicable during virtual interviews.

Hand gestures

Hand movements when you speak suggest clarity and openness but be careful not to overdo it. Waving your hands as you talk can also be perceived as aggressiveness or a sign of nervousness. Some hand gestures are contextual, but it differs from culture to culture. In Malaysia, pointing with your index fingers is considered poor manners. So watch out for this, especially if you are in an interview with a local company. If you have to point to something, remember to use your right thumb instead.

Eye contact

It is vital to make good eye contact while speaking to your potential employer. It makes you appear trustworthy, conveys confidence, and exhibits interest. Generally, holding direct eye contact is weird and disrespectful. Don’t stare. A general rule of thumb is to keep eye contact as natural and friendly as possible.

Tone of voice

Deliver your words confidently and clearly. Employers listen to the tone of your voice, including modulation, speed, and pronunciation. These factors can convey several things to an interviewer, such as eagerness, lack of it, emotion, and mood. The tone of your voice can demonstrate your warmth, expertise, and personality. Changes in your tone of voice may reveal your thinking process and reasoning as you are speaking. Employers can convey an applicant’s intelligence and mental capacity through tone more clearly than words alone.

Now that you have a better idea of the body language you may be conveying during an interview, it’s time to put them to practical use by practising how to utilise these postures during interviews. 

Here are some tips to try:

Before the interview

Be punctual.

You might as well kiss the job goodbye if you come in late for the interview. Give extra time for traffic, parking, bad weather and slow elevators. A good rule of thumb is that 10 minutes before the appointed schedule is considered on time. However, if you’re more than 15 minutes ahead of schedule, you may opt to catch your breath and freshen up in the restroom or get some coffee at the cafeteria. If you want to go straight to the receptionist, mention that you are early and that the interviewer does not need to rush. 

Dress neatly and appropriately. 

Body language isn’t just about physical gestures and movement. Appearing well-groomed can and should be considered part of your body language. Your clothing can say a lot about your attitude and confidence in the position you are applying for. Though most job interviews today are done virtually, you still need to dress up professionally. 

You may think that the interviewer is not paying attention to your clothes, but think again. A huge part of making first impressions is showing professionalism. So if you are in a virtual interview, dress up as if you are going for a face-to-face interview. Dressing for the job makes you feel more confident and focused.

Observe moderation.

Practising restraint is a virtue when it comes to the interview. Too much of anything — no matter how good — can be distracting or annoying to the interviewer. 

Keep these tips in mind:

• Use minimal makeup, jewellery, nail polish and perfume.
• Style your hair conservatively.
• Avoid excessive body movement (hand gestures, nods, shrugs).

Practice makes perfect.

Old habits die hard. Be aware of body language that may send a negative impression. If some useful non-verbal cues do not come naturally to you, give yourself time to adjust. Thinking about where to start? Practise. Train yourself to sit up straight for long periods of time. Maybe invest in a posture corrector for your chair.

If you tend to mumble or stutter, rehearse in front of a mirror to improve your speaking style. You can also use JobStreet’s Interview Tool to record and practise answering common interview questions.

You can also find a friend who can do a mock virtual interview with you. They can help you figure out how you can best present yourself and provide constructive criticisms of your delivery.

(Read more: 12 Important Things To Do 24 Hours Before Your Job Interview)

During the Interview

Practise active listening.

Active listening is a crucial component of a successful job interview. Listen closely and, whenever appropriate, nod. Nodding at the right times shows that you are actively listening, genuinely interested, and/or agreeing with what the interviewer is saying.

Making eye contact is also part of active listening. In a virtual setting, body language is limited, making eye contact difficult. Your eyes tend to move around your screen, causing challenges with connecting to your interviewer. To combat this, try practising “digital eye contact”, where you look at the box screen of the person speaking. It can help you concentrate and appear more engaged, even in a remote conversation.

Project rapport and confidence.

While it may seem unfair to be judged solely from a brief meeting, it’s a reality that 80% of hiring decisions are made based on the candidate’s personality and only 20% on skills. 

Project a hirable persona by following these guidelines:

• Maintain eye contact. Experts suggest maintaining eye contact for no longer than 10 seconds to avoid staring. Don’t let your eyes roam on his balding pate or the big mole on her cheek, for instance.
• Keep your back straight when standing or sitting. Move confidently. Sit slightly forward in your chair but don’t lean in.
• Ask questions. Don’t just nod and agree all the time! Delve deeper into what the interviewer is saying, or enquire about job-related details to move things along.
• Listen carefully, look interested, and speak clearly.
• Be diplomatic. Do not give any negative statements or derogatory remarks about previous jobs, colleagues, or employers.
• If you are preparing for a virtual job interview, have the camera at eye level and make your upper body visible. You want your potential employer to see your facial expressions and hand gestures. 
• Avoid fidgety behaviour, like touching your face and hair or adjusting your clothes. It will make you look impatient or nervous during the interview.

After the interview

Reconsider the handshake

Before the pandemic, many interviewers evaluated jobseekers’ enthusiasm by their handshake grip. However, current health protocols eliminate most physical contact from the equation. Instead of exuding confidence with a firm grip, opt to vary your non-verbal cues. 

If you are not wearing a face mask, flash the interviewer a warm and genuine smile. A simple smile indicates enthusiasm, trustworthiness, and passion. You want to exude confidence and poise from the get-go. Presenting friendly energy from the start of the interview process will help establish the tone of the entire conversation.

Follow up after the interview. 

Send a thank you note within 24 hours of your interview. Be proactive and show how interested you are in joining their company by sending them an enthusiastic but polite thank you email.

(Read more: How To Write A Great Thank You Email After Interview)

Ask about the next steps.

Before you end your interview, you can ask your interviewer or hiring manager about what you should expect next. Usually, this would take the form of an email, a second interview, or some additional requirements. 

(Read more: 7 Steps to Successfully Prepare For Second Interview Questions)

Thank the assistant or receptionist on the way out.

The assistant or receptionist will most likely be the first person you meet when you come in for the interview and the last person you see on your way out. While they don’t actually have the power to hire or veto, many employers and hirers do ask their receptionists or assistants what their impressions of the interviewees are. So treat everyone nicely. You never know what the deciding factor will ultimately be.

Studies have shown that body language in job interviews dramatically affects the success of a jobseeker’s application. Body language speaks volumes more than the words that you actually say to a potential employer. It leaves a lasting first impression and effectively communicates your confidence to take the role.

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