While there are many factors that influence the outcome of an interview, body language is one that is often overlooked. It’s important to not only control your own body language (so that it accurately reflects the point you are trying to make), but also to be able to read the body language of the interviewer.

For many of us, it can be difficult to control our body language in stressful situations. It’s easy to allow nervous gestures to get in the way of the message you are trying to get across. In order to increase your success rate in interviews, try to eliminate some (or all) of these gestures:

• Leg Bouncing/Shaking (I’m guilty of this)
• Fidgeting Hands
• Hands in Hair/Hair Twirling
• Ear Pulling
• Anything else that may distract the interviewer from your message

But equally important is the ability to read your interviewer’s body language. If you can use their body language to determine what they are thinking, you will have a leg up. For instance, if you see an interviewer check their watch constantly, it may mean that your answers are too long. This would be an excellent cue to get to your point more quickly. Another example would be crossed arms. This is a closed gesture, which may indicate disagreement or frustration. Use these clues to fine tune your answers and increase your odds of success.

Body language isn’t the most important factor in an interview, but knowing how to control and read it can be an excellent tool for improving your interview skills.

Related posts:

1. Poor Language Results In A Longer Job Search
2. Gradversity Quick Tip #9: Proactive Language
3. Gradversity Quick Tip #33: Listen
4. Guest Post: Preparing For The Interview
5. The Dangers Of Practice Interview Questions