Impressing your potential future employer is about more than simply telling him / her about your work experience and relevant skills. It is also about the subtle signals that you are sending with your body language. Read on to discover how to use your body language to your advantage in order to secure your dream job.

1. Interview Basics: What Your Body Language Says About You
Making a good impression on your potential employer is about more than simply saying the
right things – it is about your body language, too. It is a well-known fact that people make
subconscious judgements about others based on subtle body language cues, and if you
know how best to use this to your advantage, it is possible for you to increase your chances
of landing the job. Here is everything that you need to know about what your body language
says about you during an interview.
A Firm Handshake
The key to opening doors career-wise is to perfect your handshake, as it is one of the factors
that sets the tone for the rest of your interview. A weak, sloppy handshake says that you are
unsure and anxious, while a firm handshake automatically demonstrates to your potential
employee that you are confident in your abilities and ready for whatever comes your way.
Eye Contact
Maintaining eye contact is essential if you want to avoid coming off as dishonest and
dubious. However, too much eye contact can also be over-powering. The secret is to keep
alternating your gaze from each of the interviewer’s eyes, to his / her nose and back up
again, forming a triangle. This makes it possible for you to maintain ‘eye contact’ without
being intimidating.
Sit Up Straight
Someone who slouches in his / her chair can come across as lazy and uninterested, whereas
someone who sits up straight will give off an air of confidence and professionalism.
Make Hand Gestures While Speaking
If you are really nervous, a good way in which to disguise this fact is to gesture with your
hands whilst speaking. Not only will you quickly loosen up and start to relax, but you will
have the opportunity to show your palms. This is a good thing because when someone sees
your palms, it subconsciously signals to them that you are an honest, open and positive
person.
Don’t Be Afraid to Smile
While an interview is indeed a serious matter, a warm smile assists in breaking the ice and
also helps you to come across as a friendly, approachable person – someone who is able to
adapt and fit in easily into any environment.

2. Nod Your Head When the Interviewer is Speaking
Staring blankly at your interviewer is never a good idea. In order to show attentiveness, nod
occasionally to signal to them that you are listening intently and understand what they are
saying.
Remember that the Interview isn’t Over the Moment You Leave the Boardroom
It is important for you to maintain professionalism even after you have left the interview
room, as the interviewer will still be judging you subconsciously. Avoid saying things like ‘I’m
so glad that’s over! I was really nervous’ or ‘So, how did I do?’ as this may count against you
and cloud the impression that you have already made during the formal part of the
interview.
By keeping the aforementioned tips in mind, and combining your body language with your
skillset and work experience, it is easy to ensure that you make a positive impression on
your potential future employer and drastically increase your chances of landing your dream
job.
For more interview tips and career advice from PNET, click here.
Also keep an eye out for the new PNET video The Definite Do’s and Don’ts of Interviews.