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Body Language Job Interview Tips

All the job interview tips in the world won't help if you can't pick up on social cues via body language. Here's how to tell what your recruiter really thinks of you.

By Cato ConroyPublished 7 years ago 4 min read
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Job interviews are a real gamble. Sometimes, people only interview you as a way to "go through the motions" after they selected a candidate. Other times, you start out cold but get a warm feeling after wards. Even more times, it's hard to gauge the poker face of the recruiter you're trying to talk to.

Ever wonder how you can up your chances at acing the job interview, or what your job interviewer really feels about you? These body language job interview tips will help you make the best of the interview – or figure out whether you are wasting your time.

When talking to your recruiter, smile, make eye contact, and use open body language.

This is one of the most basic sets of body language job interview tips you can get. These signs show your excitement to be there and help you exude confidence.

Open body language, if you're not aware, is when you literally open up your body to the person. A straight back, open arms, uncrossed legs (or crossed at the ankles), and a slight forward lean are all signs of openness.

Generally, open body language, a smile, and eye contact all show sociability and interest in what the other person is saying. That shows job interviewers and recruiters that you know how to engage with others and that you might be a good fit with the workplace in question.

Certain body language job interview tips say that it may be a better option to have eye-to-face contact instead. This gives a less aggressive look to your body language, which can work well for people who can come across as intimidating.

On a similar note, seeing these signs with an interviewer is a good sign that you have a shot at being hired.

Whenever possible, mirror the body language of your interviewer.

Subtly mirror the body language your interviewer reflects. If he leans to the left in his chair, lean, too. If you see him nodding in his chair, nod back to him. This is known as "mirroring" by body language experts, and it's actually a subconscious trick that gets people feeling like they have a rapport with you.

The reason why it works is that we tend to like people like ourselves, and mirroring their body language is a subtle way of saying, "I'm just like you." As a result, people who mirror others tend to be seen as more astute and more likable.

In sales jobs and media jobs, mirroring can seriously help people get hired.

Watch out for folded arms, crossed legs, and leaning backwards.

All these tend to be signs that the person in question is not feeling your job application. In fact, when people "fold up," it's a sign that they are literally closed off to what you're saying. It's a protective gesture that basically shows that they aren't comfortable with you.

Similar signs include covering up their chest, a hand to their neck, a hand over their mouth, or literally turning away from you. One of the best body language job interview tips you can use upon seeing this is to just plug through the rest of it and hope for the best. Chances are, you're not getting the job.

If a job interviewer starts looking at their watch, or lets out a loud sigh, you might as well wrap things up.

There's a difference, of course, between looking at one's watch to make sure you're not going over time when other interviewees are waiting and regularly looking at the clock every four minutes. In this case, we're talking about the latter.

If you notice that they just seem to be biding their time, and are literally just watching the clock so they can get the opportunity to push you out the door, then you may as well wrap up early. They aren't looking to hire you, and that job interview was done a while ago.

On a similar note, refusing to smile is a good sign you're not getting hired.

When speaking with most people, we are conditioned to smile back if they smile at us. If you notice a lack of positive facial expressions with your interviewer, particularly in the "smile department," then none of the other body language job interview tips will help you.

That icy expression says it all — they are not interested, and they probably already have made their decision.

Lastly, make an effort to talk with your hands.

Who'd have thought you could pick up good career advice from someone like Don Vito Corleone? Now, you don't have to go full Godfatheron these kinds of body language job interview tips, but a little gesture or two definitely won't hurt your case.

Studies show that talking with your hands and showing your palms to employers when you do it tends to make you come across as active, intelligent, and highly capable.

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About the Creator

Cato Conroy

Cato Conroy is a Manhattan-based writer who yearns for a better world. He loves to write about politics, news reports, and interesting innovations that will impact the way we live.

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