7 Tips That Will Help You in Your Next Job Interview

Whether you are being interviewed for a new job, there can be quite a lot on the line. However, we have all watched interviews on television where the interviewee looks painfully awkward or flustered, and of course, that is something that you want to avoid when you are trying to get a job! Take a moment to consider these interview tips to make sure that you look natural and at your best. 

Fold Your Hands

One way that we can tell that people are nervous is by looking to see what they do with their hands. People who are very good with public speaking tend to gesture with their hands and to punctuate their sentences with hand gestures. If you are not feeling very confident, this can look a great deal more awkward if you try it! On the other hand, you do not want to make fists, either, which is something that many people do when they are nervous. Instead, fold your hands on your knee or on your lap. This prevents you from gesturing too much or tensing up.

Slow Down

When you are excited about speaking to an interviewer, it is very easy to rush things and to allow your words to fall all over each other. This will lead to you looking very rushed and very amateurish. Instead, make sure that you take a breath before you start talking and speak a little slowly. When we talk with our friends and our families, we talk fairly quickly because they know our speech rhythms. When you are speaking in public, you always need to slow it down a little to make sure that you can be understood. 

Take a Moment Before You Respond

You have a lot more time to think about your response than you think. A lot of people feel put on the spot during their interview, and because of this, they end up saying things that they wish they had not said. Don't let this happen to you. Instead, make sure that you consider what you are going to say for a moment before you actually say it. This alone can save you a lot of grief.

Smile Realistically

They say that an interviewee is never fully dressed without a smile, but if your smile is determinedly false or obviously terrified, you are not going to get the results that you think. Remember that a real smile is all about the eyes. When you smile for real, your eyes crinkle up at the corners. Before you go into your interview, remember why you want to be there, and remember to smile when the interviewer comes in. If you are a woman, it is a sad fact that you will be downgraded more for not smiling than men will be, so keep this in mind.

Good Posture

If you are someone who naturally slouches, this is going to count against you at an interview. The problem is that someone who slouches automatically looks sloppy. It ruins the line of your clothing, and it makes you look uncommitted. Work on your posture before the interview. Good posture makes you look ten times more confident and more natural than you did before.

Lean Forward

If you are feeling nervous about the interview, you might be tempted to lean back or to sit bolt upright. The problem is that this can make you look unapproachable and unfriendly. Take a moment to think about how to remember that you should lean forward slightly, A slight forward lean tells people that you are interested in what they have to say and that you are eager to learn more. This simple trick alone can help people invest more time and effort in you. 

Dress Comfortably

If at all possible, go to the interview in clothes that are comfortable for you. While you should always dress for the job, you will discover that choosing clothes that you like will help you stay in natural and relaxed. 

Take a moment to think about how well you interview and what your luck has been over the last few months. If you worry that you are coming off as too stiff or too stilted, it is time for you to think about what you can do to look a lot more natural.     



Guest post from Jennifer Mitchell, A copywriter for Free Classified Site in Egypt.

Photo credits: Ambro, freedigitalphotos.net