by Christine G.

Created on: February 26, 2008   Last Updated: May 19, 2011

According to behavioral psychologist Albert Mehrabian, visual cues, such as facial expressions, gestures and pupil dilation, make up over half of your credibility rating.  It's well worth your time to learn how to work that angle in your favour.

People have only limited control over their body language.  However, there are things you can do to help yourself put your best foot forward at a job interview. The interviewer already knows the facts; now the time has come to find out what kind of person you are.  If you can manage the interviewer's impression of you, your chances of getting the job are doubled.

The best preparation for an interview is to have practice sessions with a video camera and a friend who doesn't mind telling you the truth. When you watch yourself on tape, you will probably be appalled to discover that what you feel you are projecting is not what the other person sees. Perhaps you keep rubbing your ear, or swaying from side to side, or looking away when you are trying to make a point. Perhaps your vocal tones are harsh, you don't finish sentences, or you mumble. Pick one of the problems you have identified and work on it. Once you have that under control, try another. Rome wasn't built in a day.

Before you walk into the interview room, imagine your pleasure at receiving your first pay check from this employer. That may coax a genuine smile to your face. Ideally, your goal is to project confidence without arrogance, competence without defensiveness, friendliness without familiarity, reliability without rigidity and co-operativeness within healthy boundaries. Don't indulge in lies and distortions, however harmless they may seem. Most interviewers are experienced enough to pick up the body language cues when you lie, and will discount everything else you have to say.

Walk with your feet planted firmly on the ground.  Stand and sit tall.  Shake hands firmly but don't squeeze. Breathing slowly and deeply will help you both look calmer and be calmer.

When listening to the interviewer, lean slightly in his or her direction. Let your knees find a comfortable distance apart, neither flopping outwards or rigidly squeezed together, and keep your legs and feet still. Don't hug yourself, wring your hands, cross your arms over your chest, or fiddle with the lucky rabbit's foot in your pocket. If eye contact is a problem, focus on another part of the interviewer's face. Remember the acronym ROLE: relaxed, open, leaning,

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