This may look a very straight topic and probably you think you may not need advice on this but trust me, I have been an interviewer for years now and I can authoritatively say that 30% of your total score comes from your body language and gestures from the moment you enter the interview room to the moment you leave. Some employers employ even further tactics in monitoring your behavior from the moment you get to the reception to the moment you leave the gate thus we advise that you really check your manners throughout.
From the moment you walk into an employer's office for an interview, you are being observed. Your posture, look, voice, and presence are all important, and you want to watch your every move to leave a great impression. Just imagine how you make friends, it all boils down to first impression. It is not any different in the HR world. We need to see someone we can work with immediately we meet you. The best way to get a job is by checking your gestures and ethics because even if we do NOT offer you this opportunity, there will be another one we will maybe consider you in the future.
Here below, I want to share essential tips that can help you use the correct gestures and ethics during a job interview:
- Once you meet your interviewer, greet with a FIRM handshake: The handshake though should not be very firm especially when interviewers are ladies. There is something called professional handshake in the corporate world, ask around. This shows confidence and gives off a sign of top-quality professionalism. A strong handshake can be good but avoid a handshake that hurts your interviewer. This may have adverse effects on your chances of nailing the job.
- When sitting, cross your ankles and keep your hands on your lap: This though depends on the interview room setting but just be creative. Just as a warning do not cross your legs, lean over on the table, or cross your arms. Just sit up straight, and have presence. Be large and felt in the room. There is a way to command authority in a conference or meeting setting. Look at how bosses and other senior staff sit during meetings. Presence! Presence! Let us feel you in the room or even a look at you feels ‘you’
- Maintain eye contact and nod your head often: I remember we have written an article about this in our communication article. A good eye contact is very powerful but importantly it shows that you're paying full attention and giving your all. When also giving answers away, it tells the listener to pay attention because ‘you are watching’ and thus a ‘lecturer-student’ mood is set which call for total concentration from both the parties.
- Beware of saying too many "um", "like", "uh", and "you know": There is something called ‘command or authority’ When you blub a lot it demonstrates that you are not sure of what you are saying. Be careful not to show this kind of unawareness especially on matters that appertain to your individual facts like education, hobbies, professional background et cetera. In any interview setting you want to sound confident and sell yourself.
- When you are asked if you have any questions, definitely ask: This is the tricky part in your preparation. If you do not ask any question, it shows your unpreparedness and lack of interest. Have a few questions you will ask in hand because they will definitely help you. Be careful the questions to ask and please keep checking this site because we will share a few examples soon. Show genuine interest and that you want to learn more. Prepare your own questions to ask here.
- At the end of the interview, conclude with another FIRM handshake, and thank the interviewer for meeting with you: We have always stressed that at the end of an interview be very grateful for the interview and the time that the interviewer had for you. We even spent a whole article on this, please find it. It's easy to forget this last gesture when you are overwhelmed. But this portrays real professionalism and respect.
I want to believe that once you read this article, your gestures during an interview and after will be very professional and award or job winning.
We at HCC wish you all the best.
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