UK Job Search

How to be Silent with Body Language

An applicant’s body language is similar to a fingerprint: it differentiates him or her from other applicants and if used wrongfully can contradict what is being said verbally. However, many applicants are unconscious about their own body language and oftentimes do gestures and perform certain movements that can be misinterpreted by interviewers. This is why it is important to train one’s body language for an interview, so as not to repeat frequent day to day gestures that can leave a very negative impression behind. Some tips you should bear in mind about your body language are:

Your hands should remain flat/folded on your lap or on the arms of the chair. Folding your arms in an interview can be interpreted as being rude, lacking confidence or being nervous.
If you need to express yourself with your hands, do so slowly and with meaning. Hand movements can be distracting and excessive movements can be interpreted as being overly zealous about what is being said.
No matter how uncomfortable you may feel in an interview try not to fold your legs. For women, this can be interpreted as trying to be sexy and for men a as being too relaxed. Your feet should remain flat on the ground without making repetitive banging movements. They should be in a 90 degree angle position with a slight distance between them.
Do not nod your head to answer a question. This is considered rude and lacking interest.
Sit with your back against the chair and your shoulders in a square like position. Your thorax should be upright and not slouching forward.
Look the interviewer straight in the eyes when you are talking and being asked a question. If he or she asks an uncomfortable question, do not lose eye contact and try to remain calm while answering.
Do not wrinkle your forehead when you are puzzled about something or make facial gestures that can be considered inappropriate.
Some people tend to scratch of reach for different parts of their bodies when they are asked something that makes them uncomfortable. Women tend to reach for their hair by stroking it and men for the back of their heads by rubbing it. This creates a negative impression in an interview, because it demonstrates nervousness and lack of focus.
If you have more than one interviewer in the room make a polite effort to address their presence. It is blatantly rude if you only address him or her only after being addressed.
Do not interrupt the interviewer when he or she is talking. If both of you happen to interrupt each other at the same time, apologise and give him or her the preference to speak first. If you do not apologize for interrupting and insist on taking the lead in the conversation, this can be interpreted as being arrogant and rude.
Try to maintain a professional stare. If you are a man being interviewed by a woman, avoid glances that can be interpreted as being a flirt. If you are a woman being interviewed by a man do not make roaming glances. The interviewer should not feel that he or she is being placed under a microscope.
Do not look desperate for the job.