Avoid These Negative Body Language Cues When Going On A Job Interview

Job interviews can be tough, and the wrong body language can be enough to to count you out of the running. Paul Michael, writing for personal finance blog Wise Bread, details the common cues you want to avoid.

Photo by Cupertino (Shutterstock).

Most pertain to nervous ticks, such as touching your face or letting your leg become restless, but some get fairly specific. Sitting up too straight can make you seem rigid, but slouching provides the opposite impression. Paul also suggests that too much nodding and hand gestures can be particularly off-putting.

Overall, the advice comes down to this: too much is a bad thing. When in a job interview, avoiding extreme body language is your best bet. Consider the way you conduct yourself physically and try to adjust your behaviours so they fall into a happy medium between stillness and hyperactivity. This may sound like a definition of normal behaviour and that’s because it is, but normal is the sort of thing you forget about when you’re nervous. Keep your body language in the back of your mind and practise before your interview. If you’re aware and prepared, you should do just fine.

For more great information on body language, check out our guide on reading body language and what cues you should avoid when giving a presentation.

10 Body Language Mistakes That Sabotage Most Interviews [Wise Bread]