Your personality is reflected in your body language. In fact, when you attend a remote job interview, it is the first thing the interviewer notice. This is due to the fact that your body language during the virtual interview conveys a lot about how you feel about working remotely. Being professionals, the interviewers can probably infer from your body language what kind of personality you would make as a remote worker within the first three to five minutes.
Moreover, as they observe your body language constantly during the conversation, they are able to decipher any characteristics of your personality that you might be trying to cover up with your persuasive words. Even if you talk with confidence, your shaking hands will show how uneasy you are.
This suggests that how you present yourself during interviews has a big influence. It surely has great potential and can either make or ruin a deal. So, you should practice having flawless body language during interviews before going for an interview.
Practicing your body language in front of a mirror is an excellent way to observe and improve your nonverbal communication. Pay attention to your posture, eye contact, facial expressions, and hand gestures. Also, mindfulness can be a helpful tool in improving your body language during an interview.
What is the ideal body language for an interview?
1. Make light eye contact:
According to a survey, 68% of the 1,014 hiring managers polled reported that one of the worst body language errors applicants commonly make is failing to create eye contact. They may see that the candidate lacks confidence since they don’t make eye contact. The candidates thus forfeit their opportunity to get hired. In order to avoid awkward situations during interviews, constantly maintain friendly eye contact with the interviewer. Making eye contact can convey to the interviewers that you are focused and interested in the job.
Also, you want to refrain from staring at your own image on the video calling screen. This will make you appear self-conscious to the interviewers. Although you might think that because they are professionals, the interviewers won’t be able to notice it, they can. In order to avoid staring at your own image the whole time you are being interviewed, you should make mild eye contact with the interviewers.
2. Sitting with your shoulders relaxed and your back straight:
The largest body language error made by candidates that inhibits employment, according to 31% of the hiring managers questioned in the same survey, is improper posture. This suggests that you must maintain appropriate body posture when attending a remote job interview. It involves sitting with your shoulders back and your back straight. However, keep in mind to not come off as stiff in front of the interviewers.
3. Having a smile that comes naturally:
When we are anxious, it is difficult to grin. Consequently, if interviews make you anxious, you can find it difficult to return the interviewers’ smiles. Even then, it could simply be a hesitant smile. You must, however, return the interviewers’ smiles fully if you want to succeed in it and get employed. This is due to the fact that, according to 38% of hiring managers in the same poll as noted above, the worst body language error made by candidates during an interview was not smiling. Thus, you should smile when you welcome the interviewers. You should also grin sometimes during the interview in appropriate circumstances.
4. Using hand gestures only when appropriate:
Using hand gestures is beneficial, but if you do them excessively, the interviewer can get dissatisfied. According to 13% of hiring managers who responded to the Annual Career Builder poll, candidates’ worst body language faux pas is making too many hand movements. This suggests that you should utilize hand gestures during your remote job interview, but only when appropriate and not every time you talk.
5. Avoid Fidgeting:
It is the act of constantly moving your hands, legs, or body out of nervousness or anxiety. When they attend interviews, the majority of people fidget excessively out of anxiousness. They do poorly as a result of this. The top body language error committed by candidates, according to 32% of hiring managers in the same poll as noted above, is excessive fidgeting. It demonstrates to them their uncertainty and lack of confidence in no uncertain terms. Therefore be careful not to fidget too much when you’re at an interview. You should be aware of your body and restrain any tense motions.
Five main components of the ideal body language during an interview:
1. Begin by reading about body language: ‘Knowledge comes before practice. Hence, first and foremost, you should start reading about body language. If you have lots of time before your interview, you may spend it reading an excellent book on the subject. Some books to read are What Every Body Is Saying, The Ultimate Book of Body Language, and The Dictionary of Body Language. But, if you are short on time and want to learn about body language quickly, you should read some good body language blogs. They will assist you in gaining sufficient expertise to demonstrate effective body language in your interview.
2. Make notes of crucial facts: The human brain is unable to retain all of the information it learns. So, it is imperative that you make note of all the key topics as you read. This will enable you to keep reviewing what you have studied in order to avoid making serious body language errors during the interview.
3. Watch YouTube body language videos: Visual learning is more effective than written learning. It makes knowledge easier for your brain to retain for extended periods of time. As a result, you should view YouTube videos about body language. There are many of them accessible, so when you view any of them, remember to take notes on the key aspects.
4. Work on your skills in front of a mirror. As they say, practice makes perfect. You should thus practice it in order to instill the ideal body language for interviews. The easiest approach to prepare is to conduct an online search and compile a list of common interview questions relevant to your job description. After that, prepare appropriate responses to such queries and practice saying them in front of a mirror. You must keep an eye on your body language and record any mistakes you make as you go. To perfect your body language, continue to frequently practice this technique.
5. Practice for the interview virtually before going in person: You should prepare for the interview in advance. You might ask a friend, instructor, or member of your family to conduct your interview as an excellent practice by getting in touch with the right individual. Therefore, you should provide the interviewer with a list of body language dos and don’ts before the interview. He will be better able to interpret your body language thanks to this. Also, you should perform the virtual interview through video conference in the same manner as your actual interview. Following the interview, ask the interviewer for honest criticism so you can adjust your body language.
Your ability to fascinate the interviewers with your body language is crucial. Hence, using the tips listed above, you should focus on developing interview-ready body language in addition to being well-prepared for the interview’s questions.