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How to Behave at an Interview

You have done all the hard work in the preparation of your CV to get that all important interview but now what are you going to do? You need to prepare with the information about the company and questions of what you want to know about the job and the company and I don't simply mean the couple of questions you really want to know like what hours are you expected to work?; Any benefits?; How much am I going to be paid? You need to show that the job is important to you and not just these key areas. However, once you know you are fully prepared for the interview have you thought about how you are going to present yourself and how to manage an interview. Your first and overall impression in an interview will say a lot about you and can be the success to getting the job offer. You need to ensure you sell your qualities and make yourself shine but how do you that?

Firstly when you enter you need to enter and greet the interviewers with confidence and hide your nerves. You need to ensure you are friendly, greet them and make sure that you make eye contact with them. You also need to use the right body language as this can show a lot about a person's character without them speaking. Body language can include little habits we do when we are nervous as well as generally how we present ourselves in the way we sit. We do not want to show any sign of lack of interest or commitment and there are certain sitting positions such as slouching or drumming your fingers on a table which can portray. Instead you will want to sit up straight and lengthen your body and your spine and maintain this posture through the whole interview and don't relax, get tired or nerves change this. This posture also applies for when you are standing up as well, make sure you stand tall and straight, with your shoulders back and not hunched over.

During your interview do not fidget, you need to keep still. You will find most people fidget because of nerves and find that they keep moving and changing their position, playing with their hair, fingers or a ring. All of these are signs of nervousness to the interviewer. Instead you will want to sit still, with your hands clasped lightly in your lap or you can let them rest gently on the table. By sitting still when the interviewers are talking to you also shows them that you are listening to them. The movement of your hands also applies to your legs and feet so please ensure that you keep your feet still, don't tap them and don't keep crossing and uncrossing your legs. It is ok whilst sitting still to sit with your legs crossed.

You may find there are times that you may want to get certain key points emphasised and relayed across and you can do this by using your hands when speaking. However be careful not to overuse your hands as it will take away the emphasis when you really want to show it and may also make you look nervous. If you want to count off points for qualities or reasons you want the job or think you are good for the job, you could use your fingers to count. However be careful how you use your fingers so it does not appear to look rude or aggressive. Do not point at the interviewers as this again is deemed as an aggressive gesture and can seem intimidating. You can also turn your hands over so your palms are up with your fingers spread out which can show sincerity.

There is one thing which you should not do and that is sit in the interview with your arms crossed. This can be read as a sign of defensiveness and can also intimidate your interviewers.

With all this in place you will now be set for participation for interview and one step ahead for getting the job.