Eye Contact: It could be something as simple as shyness, but if you don't look directly at people, they think you are shifty and distrusting. Practice looking people right in the eye. It is very important in life in general, but especially during an interview.
Hands Behind The Head: You're probably just stretching or relaxing, but it looks like you don't care, or that you feel superior.
Fingers Under The Chin: This is probably just a listening habit, but you appear skeptical and superior. Remember how the principal looked at you when you were called into the office?
Arms Folded In Front of The Body: You could be cold or simply accustomed to sitting like that, but you appear unreceptive and closed minded.
Fiddling With Tie, Scarf Or Pen: This action makes you look unsure of yourself. You could just be checking to make sure something is straight, but it suggests you are nervous. Check your attire and materials before the interview and then relax.
Nail Biting: Once again, this could be a childhood habit, but it's interpreted as fear, nervousness or panic.
Swinging Or Tapping Feet: Your way of relaxing or coping in a situation can make you appear hurried and uninterested.
Handshakes Are Important: As silly as it may sound, a handshake can secure or lose a job. I have actually had employers make their decision between two equally qualified candidates by the way they shook hands.
Some of the most frequently asked questions about the handshake are:
- Should I extend hand first? Wait for the interviewer to extend a hand first.
- Should a man wait for a woman to extend a hand first? Those days are gone forever. Use the guidelines above to determine who should initiate the handshake.
- Should I move my hand up and down a few times when shaking? No, it is not necessary to pump the arm, but a firm grip is important.
- How hard should I squeeze? Learn the answer to this one by trying shake hands with a few people and ask them.
Handshakes are so important; some of them have actually been named. Here are the most basic:
- The Dead Mackerel suggests a weak personality.
- The Bone Crusher is too aggressive.
- The two handed Sandwich is too personal for business.
- The Grabber, in which you grab the arm while shaking the hand, is too personal for a first meeting. Now that you are frozen stiff, afraid to move for fear of insulting someone, relax.
The bottom line on body language is this: The person, who exudes confidence, walks tall, looks you in the eye, has a firm handshake, and keeps the body movement minimal is most often trusted and accepted and usually gets the offer.
