What your body language is saying about you during an interview

What your body language is saying about you during an interviewWhat your body language is saying about you during an interviewSometimes its the little things that sabotage your chance at a new career. Heres how to prevent body language from losing you a job offer.Everyone has physical habits they rarely elendice.In an interview setting, these nervous ticks offer a physical outlet for the stress youre under.But they come at a price. Rather than focusing on what youre saying or the experience youd bring, the hiring managers attention turns to your nail-biting or hair-twirling. The scariest part? You may not even realize youre doing it.Poor body language can send messages that youre incapable, nervous, or unhappyall adjectives you dont want an interviewer associating with you. An interviewermay forgive you for a subpar answer on the 5th question youre asked, but if your body language offers physical evidence you dont work well under pressure or youre not confident in your abilities? Its going to be hard to come back.Dont undermine how qualified you are with poor habits.Practice avoiding these common moves before they cost you your next job.SlouchingRemember when your mom would tell you to stand up straight? She was on to something.Slouching makes you look as though youre bored and disengaged, and leaning forward too much can make the interviewer feel crowded.Standing up straight instills a sense of confidence and ownership of the situation.To the interviewer, it makes you look taller, but also more capable and self-assured.SlumpingThink about the last social gathering you attended where you didnt know anyone. Did you cross your arms? Put your hands in your pockets?Crossing your arms or hunching over (which most of us have a habit of doing without realizing) can make you seem insecure. Although it can feel comforting to fold your arms in front of your chest, the movement sends a signal that youre uninterested or unapproachable in the conversation. Some even view it as aggressive.You want to appear open, approachable, and friendly during an interview.To avoid the hunch, remember to keep your arms relaxed by your side orhold your resume folio in your handsto prevent yourself from resorting to old habits. Having good posture throughout the interview will make you lookand actuallyfeelmore confident.Whether its tucking your hair behind your ear, touching your face, or tapping your foot, nervous gestures creep up out of nowhere.SmirkingYoull want to avoid rolling your eyes or giving any signs youre nervous or frustrated. But that doesnt mean you need to remain absolutely serious during an interview- you should definitely try to showcase your personality.An easy way to help break the ice is to smile. When you do, youre telling your tauglichkeit future employer in that 1) youre normal and 2) it would actually be fun to work with you on a daily basis. Most importantly, a smile will help you relax so you can present the best version of yourself.Fiddlin gWhether its tucking your hair behind your ear, touching your face, or tapping your foot, nervous gestures creep up out of nowhere. They can make you look distracted or, worse, showcase insecurity. Be self-aware. Take control by placing your hands on the table or on the armrest.Not sure how to act? One way to instill a sense of trust during an interview is to subtly mimic the movement of your interviewer. Without acting like a copycat, try to mirror your interviewers body language. If your interviewer is leaning forward during the conversation, lean slightly forward as well to show youre interested in what she has to say. This subtle technique shows youre on the same team.HandshakingYour handshake alone can set the stage for the rest of the interview. No pressureA too-firm handshake can signal youre overcompensating. A too light handshake hints at a lack of confidence. If you offer a weak handshake during a high-pressure situation like an interview,the interviewer might wonder how y oud handlemeeting an important stakeholder. Practice makes perfect so try some mock introductions with friends or family to get it right.And dont be afraid to be the first person to extend your hand. A strong handshake is one of the few ways to appropriately touch someone in a corporate setting, and it can instill a sense of kindness and warmthif done right.A word on eye contactThink about the last few conversations you had. Did anyone stare at you for too long? Did they frequently look away? What was your gut reaction about that person?Maintaining eye contact with your interviewer demonstrates youre confident and can hold your own in a conversation, but staring too long can feel unnatural. If you consistently avert your interviewers gaze, your interviewer may find cause for concerna shifty gaze signals you cant be trusted.Find the happy medium (eye contact about 70 percent of the time) that will demonstrate your emotional intelligence without scaring anyone away.At its worst, poor body language can send a message that were incapable of the task at hand. When your dream job is on the line, you dont want to risk losing out because you crossed your arms at the wrong time.Create a neutral canvas togive yourself the best startfor your next great opportunity.This article was originally published on Career Contessa.