Proper Body Language for an Interview

With summer coming up, I’m sure many of you are looking for summer jobs and internships. But even if you’re not, it’s important to know how to conduct yourself in an interview so that you leave feeling confident about getting the job. Body language is just as important as what you’re saying in an interview, if not more important, because the interviewer is going to remember the impression you made more than they’ll remember what you said.

Here’s some tips on ways to present yourself in a professional and lady-like manner that will surely help you leave the impression you want.

1. Sit up straight.

A pretty obvious one, but it goes a long way. If you’re slouching and looking sloppy, the interviewer is going to associate you with sloppiness. Play it safe and sit up straight, even when you’re standing and walking. Think “Princess Diaries” – a princess never slouches.

2. Don’t look around the room.

You want to give the interviewer your full and undivided attention. I know it’s a natural tendency to want to glance around the room when you’re bored or if you’re uncomfortable making eye contact the whole time, but it’s more important to show your interviewer that you’re not only listening, but really taking in what they’re saying. Show that you’re hearing them with ocasional head nods or short replies without interrupting, such as “I agree!” or “sounds great”.

3. Cross your legs towards your interviewer.

 Crossing your legs in the first place is the lady-like thing to do, especially if you’re wearing a skirt, but if you have your legs crossed try to remember to cross them in the direction of your interviewer. I know this seems like an insignificant thing to do, and truth be told it’ll most likely go unnoticed by your interviewer, but the impression it gives off is certainly an important one. Crossing your legs away from the interviewer shows that you’re closed off from the interviewer, so pointing them at him or her will show you’re engaged in the conversation. Make sure your shoulders are facing the interviewer as well.

4. Don’t check the time.

Never check the time when you’re with an interviewer. All it shows is a sense of urgency to get the interview over with and boredom in what the interviewer is saying. If you absolutely can’t not look at your watch when you’re wearing one, don’t wear one. Same with cell phones. You shouldn’t bring one into the interview in the first place, but if you did bring it, don’t check it at all. Even if the interviewer has a clock on thier desk right under their face, do your very best not to look at it. No good impression can be made from checking the clock during an interview. 

Good luck, collegiettes!