How to Look More Confident During a Job Interview
How to Look More Confident During a Job Interview
Start the job interview with a solid entrance
Your job interview starts as soon as you enter the building. Be conscious of fidgeting or bouncing your legs while you sit. Cross your feet at the ankles, sit upright, keep your legs still, smile and breathe.
Speaking of breathing, when we’re nervous, we tend to take shallower breaths, making our voices sound shaky. Before it starts, try the 4-7-8 technique (breathe in for four seconds, hold for seven, breathe out for eight) to calm your breathing and your racing thoughts.
A good handshake
If a handshake is permitted it should be a firm action because one that is too soft can apparently make you appear weak or shy. But there is such a thing as too firm. Aim for a happy medium.
If a handshake isn’t permitted (covid) you can raise your hand and smile but please no waving!
(Pro tip: Get rid of palm sweatiness with alcohol-based hand sanitizer.)
Posture and eye contact
This may seem obvious but it needs repeating: Sit up straight, chin up, shoulders down and back and smile.
And remember that although it may feel uncomfortable at times, eye contact is key—especially while the other person is talking. When it’s your turn, though, you may occasionally gaze up and around while searching for what to say; but you should always come back to meet your interviewer’s gaze. When in doubt, pretend you’re having a conversation with a friend
Hands
If you have a one-off itch, that’s one thing. But if you spend a substantial amount of time with your hands on or near your face, particularly near your mouth, it can send the message you’re not comfortable with what you’re saying. When you’re not gesturing, hands should remain in your lap. And while we’re at it, leave your accessories and hair alone.
And don’t forget to smile—a smile not only conveys warmth, receptivity, and positivity, it also helps reduce stress hormones and activate mood-enhancing chemicals in the brain.
Listen actively and try mirroring
Try not to spend so much mental energy doing all of the above, though, that you forget to actually listen. Active listening is a key part of any interview; you may even want to lean forward slightly in your seat to both prompt yourself to listen more closely and to indicate to the interviewer that they have your full attention.
Mirroring, or copying someone’s body language, is also a subtle but powerful way to convey connection. Face your interviewer directly, sit in the same position and try to match the pace, volume, and cadence of their words.
For more support or advice with interview preparation please contact helen@jbrecruitment.co.uk