It just takes nearly 5 to 30 seconds for a person to form an opinion about you.

Yes, you read that right; it is just a fraction of a second that you are judged on your appearance, dress, and especially your body language.

Your body language for an interview can give either the best or the worst impression just at the very first sight.

Remember someone with a rude expression you saw in the morning; you will most probably not even look at that person again. Isn’t it?

Therefore, you should be sure that it is essential to have a pleasing yet confident body language, especially taking care of the body language during an interview.

It plays a significant role in your selection or rejection decision.

Why is body language important for interviews?

The interviewer makes the first impression and judgment about you by looking at your body language.

Your appearance, talking style, eye contact with the opposite person, handshake gesture, expressions, talking tone, etc., all play a significant role in making a lasting impression on the interviewer. If you doubt the importance of body language in an interview, you are risking way too much.

Many studies support the fact that it is not the candidate’s answer that catches the attention but the way he/she behaves while answering the same.

In simple words, it can be understood that the interviewer is impressed with your body language and confidence during the interview.

While you can be struggling to maintain the proper body posture during the interview, Rozgar.com is always a step ahead to offer you the best job opportunities.

Therefore, it is essential to be attentive to the body language do’s and don’ts for an interview to make an unforgettable impression. If you are wondering how to maintain body posture, we have just the right tips for you.

Body Language Do’s and Don’ts for Interview –

Read along to find some of the effective body language tips that you should follow during an interview:

Do’s for a job interview:

1. Appear confident and calm:

You must be shaking from inside to face the interview, but never let this show on your face. Don’t let your body language give any wrong impression of your personality.

Confidence is the master key to excel in the job interview; thus, you should always be confident/calm when appearing for the interview. You may not pay attention, but confidence becomes visible in every situation – the way you enter, talk, sit, etc.

You should also focus on maintaining an open and friendly stance. Let your confidence shine around, and your half battle is won.

2. Make the proper entry:

Be sure to have the proper entry. The moment you enter the interview room, the interviewer should feel like they are seeing the right candidate for the job.

Your entry should have a firm handshake and good eye contact while maintaining personal space with the interviewer. Your entry shouldn’t be the time when you are adjusting your bag, hair, or certificates.

3. Maintain good eye contact:

Eye contact plays an essential role in defining body language in communication. Your eye contact shouldn’t be limited to just your entry, but you should maintain the same throughout the interview.

Maintaining good eye contact assures the interviewer that you pay attention to the conversation and are interested in the details. It also shows a high level of engagement with the interviewer.

Important tip – when there are multiple interviewers, make sure to maintain eye contact with each one of them, turn by turn. Don’t pay attention to just one interviewer while ignoring the others.

4. Smile

Similar to hands, your smile is also one of the best ways to portray positive body language. You must generally smile (not to an unnatural extent) whenever possible during the interview.

Your smiling tells the interviewer that you have a compassionate, warm, and friendly personality. Smiling at appropriate times can also reflect your confidence in yourself.

Lastly, a job interview can be stressful and challenging. Smiling can help lower stress and make you relaxed and confident.

5. Use appropriate hand movements:

Your hands portray the first sign that you are nervous or uncomfortable in a situation. The best way to position your hands during the interview is to put them on your lap.

Another thing that you should keep in mind is to avoid excessive hand movements. A subtle body language during an interview is the key.

6. Learn to Listen Attentively:

Listening is an important trait that impresses the interviewer. Generally, the interview is a two-way communication where you should express yourself but occasionally use signals that you listen and agree with the interviewer.

Try to be genuinely engaged in communication. If you fake listening or wait for the interviewer to stop talking, your facial expressions will communicate everything within no time.

7. Have a calm exit:

It is equally important to have a calm exit, similar to your entry. Don’t be just involved in collecting your things; instead, give sufficient time to the interviewer. Even if you are in a hurry to leave the interview room, it should never be reflected in your body language.

Quick tip – it is recommended to shake hands during exit and thank the interviewer for their time.

Don’ts for Job Interview:

When talking about the body language do’s and don’ts, it is equally important to pay close attention to avoid the don’ts. Here are a few body language tips that you should avoid to portray positive body language:

1. Avoid Drooping:

Appearing with drooping shoulders or a slouch is a big no for the interview. It portrays that you are not confident and, thus, not the right fit for the job.

2. Touching your hair or face frequently:

You might love touching your face or hair, but doing that frequently makes you look uncomfortable, dishonest, or underprepared during the interview.

3. Excessive body movements:

Too much body language also signifies that you are nervous during the interview. You should be expressive but overdoing the same is not recommended as acceptable body language for an interview.

4. Looking all around:

Remember you are at an interview and not your friend’s place to look all around. Looking around the room will indicate that you are not interested in anything happening around you. This will result in a disconnection between you and the interviewer.

5. Staring at the interviewer:

While eye contact plays an essential role as body language in communication, staring at the interviewer should be completely avoided. Staring at the interviewer for a long can make them uncomfortable.

6. Folding arms or crossing legs:

Sitting with folded arms during the interview indicates that either you are too aggressive or too defensive in your appearance. Both situations will not work in your favor. Also, crossing your legs is not recommended during the interview.

7. Being overconfident:

Over-confidence or arrogance is often the same and not some recommended gestures for body language for an interview. No recruiter would like to hire a candidate who is arrogant or over-confident.

You should understand the body language to show just the right confidence.

Conclusion

Your body language will say it all either directly or indirectly; thus, it is essential to consider the gestures do’s and don’ts when appearing for the interview.

It is recommended to maintain your best positive body language to make the most amazing impression on the interviewer.

Ensure to practise these body language do’s and don’ts to have a successful job interview. After all, an impression reflects your capabilities and the way you come across other people.

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