Whether you need a job now, or you want a career change, job interviews can feel nerve-wracking since there can be a potentially lifechanging outcome resting on as little as an hour.
Of course, the recruiter needs to hear about your relevant experience and how you can be of value, but that’s not the only thing you can do to leave your best impression and increase your chances of being offered the position. At the very least, make sure you don’t neglect the following points:
- Make eye contact. But don’t go overboard trying to make eye contact. Just make sure that when introducing yourself and when you communicate throughout the interview, that you are engaged in your body language by making a natural eye contact with the employer when they do. A good natural smile works wonders in combination with eye contact to create a good connection, it puts everyone at ease.
- Don’t slouch. Be aware of your posture, even before the interview has started. Remember you might be working at this place soon, you don’t want your future workmates to see you slouching around the waiting area. During the interview, even if you are nervous, you can give a more confident energy by sitting up straight with your head up and ready to engage with the interviewer.
- Remember not to speak too fast. A good, calm speaking pace is a good signal of a calm and collected person. You can tell a lot about someone’s current state of mind by the tone and speed of their voice. Often when we’re nervous, we speak too fast or become tongue-tied. If this sounds like you, just know that the more you practice speaking in a job interview situation, the better at it you will become. Want to know if your speaking rate is currently good in an interview situation? Find out here.
These 3 simple tips don’t cost a dime but could help you gain a new career. It is surprising how many people forget these rules when nerves take over on the day. Recruiters may interview many people every week so if you want them to remember you well, ingrain these 3 points and visit our interview tips page and see what else you can do to increase your chances of being offered your dream job at your next interview.
