The Unspoken Secrets of Job Interviewing

The content of what you say in response to questions (and the content of questions you ask) is obviously exceedingly important in a job interview. What is less well known is the importance of the part of the interview that isn’t spoken — the way you present yourself and behave nonverbally.

Interview attire and grooming:

 Dressing for an interview is a huge subject.  Dress for Success, but a few simple guidelines can help you make sure you outfit yourself appropriately for an interview:

• Err on the side of conservatism. 
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• Job-seekers are often advised to dress in the manner of other employees in the organization in which they are interviewing, but hiring managers have been saying recently, especially at the executive and senior levels, that it’s best to dress in the most conservative business attire (not business casual). That means a matching jacketed suit for both men and women, conservative colors (such as black and navy, though women can usually get away with a broader range of colors), polished shoes, and ties for men.
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• Keep your hair neat hair and off your face.
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•  . Especially in a panel interview, remember that interviewers may see your face in profile, so hair should not block that view. Long hair is sometimes risky for men, even when neatly pony-tailed.
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• Less is more when it comes to makeup, jewelry, and especially fragrance. Tone down these enhancements. Fragrance should be at a bare minimum or omitted completely because your interviewer could be allergic to your fragrance.
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• At the same time, don’t stink! Avoid bad breath and body odor (but don’t chew gum or suck on a mint in the interview).
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• Watch your grooming. 
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• Be sure your fingernails are clean. Although neat facial hair (beard, mustache) is only minimally risky for men, five ‘o clock shadow is a turnoff.
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• Hide any body piercings or tattoos. While these adornments are less risky than they once were, plenty of employers still disdain them, so make sure piercings and tattoos can’t be seen.
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Items to bring to the interview.

 Be sure to bring several copies of your resume. The interviewer may have misplaced his or her copy, and you may also interview with multiple people who don’t all have copies of your resume. Consider bringing a career portfolio that will enable you to visually present examples of skills and accomplishments. You might also bring a briefcase or attache case, but if you bring a portfolio, you may want to skip this extra baggage. That’s especially true for women, who will likely be carrying a purse as well.

Facial expressions: 

The default job-interview facial expression is your smile. Sure, there will be times in the interview when a smile is not appropriate, but smiling as much as possible in the meeting is key to showing your enthusiasm. One of interviewers’ top complaints about interviewees is that they fail to show sufficient enthusiasm; a smile is the best way to show how much you want the job. A warm smile is especially important when you first meet your interviewer.

Handshake.

 Your handshake should be firm, but not bone-crushing. Avoid the “limp fish” handshake. Be sure your palms are dry; use a handkerchief on them right before the interview, or try Moisture Absorb, a product recommend in Oprah’s O Magazine.

Posture.

 Once the interviewer invites you to take a seat, sit up straight and try the psychological trick of sitting slightly toward the edge of the chair to appear eager. 

Eye contact. 

As we’ve already seen, eye contact is extremely important. Some experts advise looking at the interviewer’s nose to avoid the creepiness of your eyes affixed on his or her eyes. In a panel interview, look at the questioner when responding to a question, but also glance at the other interviewers.

Hand gestures. 

It’s fine to use hand gestures in a job interview, but keep them small, contained, and close to your body. If you know you tend to get wildly carried away with hand gestures — or if nerves make your hands shake — try firmly holding a pen

Bad habits and inappropriate body language

 Any number of quirky tics in an interview can derail your performance, and the worst problem is you may not even be aware you’re exhibiting those behaviors. .  Some typical inappropriate behaviors are tapping, drumming, leg shaking, fidgeting, twirling in a swivel chair, and playing with hands — and many interviewers have seen far worse. Also be aware of cultural preferences about personal space.

The most difficult nonverbal problem is profuse sweating because it is very difficult to avoid and deal with once in the interview. If you are prone to extreme sweating, first see if your doctor has suggestions. And be sure to take a tissue or handkerchief into the interview; you may have to subtly wipe sweat off your brow or face.

Confident voice projection and avoiding verbal tics. 

Technically, these are not exactly nonverbal behaviors since they involve speech, but because they do not relate to interview content, they’re included here. The best way to demonstrate confidence — a hugely important interview factor –is to project your voice strongly. Avoid a weak, timid, or baby-soft voice. Among the verbal tics to avoid:

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What’s the best way to ensure all your nonverbals make a great impression and you look right for the interview?

 Here are two suggestions:

1. Engage in a mock interview in which your interviewer focuses entirely on and critiques your nonverbals. You can do this mock interview with a career counselor or coach, but in a pinch, a family member or friend should do just fine.
2. Have yourself videorecorded in a mock interview. This technique is especially useful for uncovering those tics and behaviors you may not be aware of. You may be amazed to see how you present yourself. Ideally you’ll be amazed in a good way.

Final Thoughts on Interview Preparation

Remember that there is much more to preparing for an interview than practicing how you will respond to the questions. Consider the complete package and ensure that the nonverbal impression you present is as polished as is your content.

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