Does the way you sit or fold your arms really affect your interview for that sales manager job? You may be surprised at the answer!
If you play with your jewelry, slump in your chair, avoid eye contact, or have no expression on your face, it makes the interviewer think you’re not interested. It does not convey either interest or enthusiasm. If the interviewer has a negative response to your non verbal communication, then no matter what you say verbally it will be hard to overcome it. If you’re sitting straight up in your chair while leaning forward slightly, that conveys interest in what the interviewer is telling you. By leaning forward, it shows the interviewer that you find what they have to say interesting and you’re waiting for the next word to come out of their mouth.
Hold your arms lightly to your side, don’t cross them across your body. By folding your arms across your body, the interviewer feels as if you’re closing off from them and being non-receptive to what they have to say. Open arms means you are receptive to the ideas they are talking about. Try to appear relaxed and comfortable. If you are tense, it shows. You make the other person uncomfortable, plus they may think you’re hiding something.
Be enthusiastic! Be expressing your interest through the tone of your voice and facial expression, you can show your enthusiasm. You can gesture naturally to reinforce your message. You need to keep your hands away from touching your face and don’t play with your hair or pat it. Avoid playing with your earrings or jewelry. Try not to do any distracting behavior that takes away from your positive verbal messages that you are trying to get across to the interviewer. By communicating your enthusiasm through facial expressions and tone of voice, you convey a positive attitude about the job and what the interviewer is offering.
Don’t hold a notebook, paper or pen in your hands. If you do, you’ll end up playing with it, portraying nervousness and uncertainty. It will also hold you back from gesturing when you need to make a point. If you’re holding onto these items, you’ll gesture less and your points won’t be taken as well.
Always make direct eye contact with the interviewer and smile. You’ll come across as friendly and open. You will be that person the interviewer wants to hire for the company and that’s what it’s all about. Isn’t it?
Lastly - smile!
Lastly - smile!
What tips do you have about body language in an interview?
By Linda Lee Ruzicka
Linda Lee Ruzicka lives in the mountains of Western PA , happily married and with her 6 cats and three dogs. She has been published in Twilight Times, Dark Krypt, Fables, Decending Darkness, Writing Village, June Cotner anthology, The Grit, Reminisce , the book, Haunted Encounters: Friends and Family. She is an Affiliate member of the Horror Writers Association She also does freelances work for Beyond and for Salesheads. More of her blogs can be found at Salesheads blog.
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