You’ve prepped well for your job interview: your resume is in top shape, you’ve researched the company and you have answers ready for all the most common questions. But what about your body language? In turns out that when it comes to job interviews, there’s a lot of truth in the phrase, “Actions speak louder than words.”
“Our words are only one way we communicate,” said emotional intelligence expert and speaker Harvey Deutschendorf. “Our bodies convey our thoughts and feelings and send messages that others pick up to make judgements about us. It’s crucial to our success in all areas of life that we become aware of the messages our body language sends to others. By focusing on what our bodies are saying, we can ensure we send a complete message to make the desired impact.”
Most people have little body language quirks they’ve been using in conversations for years, but aren’t even aware of them. And in a stressful environment like a job interview, these can be magnified. But you can unlearn bad habits by making a conscious effort to be more aware of them when you speak to others. “Like any other habit, it comes down to practicing until it becomes natural,” said Deutschendorf.
Here are 15 ways you can use body language to help land your dream job.