Body Language The Third Key To A Successful Interview
Whether you know it or not your body is constantly speaking even when no words are spoken. How does this happen? It is the position of your body which provides others with visual queues that are commonly known ask body language. You body speaks to people before you do, and you respond to other people’s body language. I will use examples to provide you with a better picture. When you see someone with their arms folded it gives you the impression that they are displeased, or angry with the situation. If someone has their hand on their hip, it may give the impression that this person has an attitude. Now I know you would never enter an interview exhibiting such behaviors, but you need to be aware of your body language to ensure that the audible message you convey is in agreement with the visual message you body is conveying.
One of the best ways to establish a friendly relationship with the person who is interviewing you is by mirroring their body language. What is mirroring you ask? It is matching what a person does with their body and reflecting back the same visual clues. If the interviewer smiles then you should too. If they lean forward so should you. You want to make your visual response as natural as you can. Focus on reflecting, just like the person would see in a mirror, positive behaviors that the interviewer displays.
This is a learned skill and I recommend practicing with a friend so that you feel comfortable and respond naturally. The benefit of mirroring the interviewer’s body language is making the interviewer feel comfortable with you and like you. Remember the successful interview is all about establishing a friendly relationship, the visual queues you display, your body language, is the key to establishing this relationship. Don’t forget that eye contact plays in the body language equation. Your smile is the ice breaker when you feel that things may be getting a little tense. Remember to keep a positive mind set, mirror the interviewer, smile and keep good eye contact. You will not regret the time spent practicing perfecting this skill, especially when the goal is your next dream job.
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February 21st, 2008 at 8:31 am
Thanks so much for this post. It really does look at an area that is often overlooked in interviews. Interviews are a real presentation. So body language helps the interviewee to actually interact with the interviewer in a powerful way.
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:20 am
Excellent points you are making here. You are providing a very important service.
It might also be helpful to tape oneself while practicing with a friend as we often don’t realize what kind of body language we have in the moment we are expressing it. I have found that videos of my teaching were often the best tools for self-improvement.