•
Folding your arms - it sends the message that you are hiding something or are on the defensive.
•
Slouching in your chair.
Areas to concentrate on include:
•
Walk slowly, deliberately and tall when you enter the room.
•
Smile. Do not grin like a village idiot for the duration of the interview, but show the interviewer that
you are open , friendly and confident by showing your whites every now and again. Confidence will
come from being well prepared.
•
Maintain good eye contact. Avoid glaring or staring into the interviewer’s eyes by rotating your look
from the interviewer’s eyes to their mouth as they speak and to their hands if they make any gestures
when emphasising a point.
•
Try to mirror the interviewer’s body language. eg. If they laugh and lean back do the same making
sure that you do not overpower them with the volume of your laughter. Do not mirror negative body
language such as an interviewer slouching etc.
•
Occasionally show one or both of your palms when making a point. This conveys openness and
honesty. However, don’t overuse this or you will come across like a bad politician or a used car
salesman.
The main point is to ensure that you are as relaxed and confident. As mentioned above, the best way to
ensure this is through thorough preparation.
REASONS FOR HIRING
By looking at the interview from the other side of the desk, it is much easier to understand what the
interviewer is looking for, and therefore to tailor your answers to what is needed.
The interviewer will have 4 main considerations:
•
Ability & Suitability There are plenty of people with the right qualifications and skills to do the job
in hand. On paper, the interviewer may have little to help them differentiate between candidates.
Look at the role that you are applying for and list all the technical skills and personal traits that are
vital to the job. Now pick out specific examples from your past that highlight these qualities. Make
life easy for the interviewer by painting vivid pictures from your past. Specifics will always win
over generalisations as they prove to the interviewer that you have what it takes to do the job well.
•
Willingness You may have the right credentials to do the job but the interviewer needs to know if
you are the sort of person who will go the extra mile in order to help the team succeed. A jobsworth
who will not do anything that is not in the job description will be a future headache for the
interviewer. Have examples ready of when you went beyond the call of duty in order to ensure the
success of a project or task.
•
Manageability & Teamwork No manager is looking for a high maintenance employee. They are
looking for someone who will fit in well with the rest of the team and not rock the boat. If you do
have any particularly strong opinions or beliefs that have caused problems in the past do not bring
them up
•
•
Problem Solving Anyone who is hired is hired for the same reason: the employer has a problem of
some kind that needs solving. Look at the job description and decide what problems will need to be
solved by the individual who gets the job. Again go to your past and prepare examples of when you