Your Behaviour In A Job Interview

Is my body language something an interviewer will be looking at?

Remember, during the job interview process it's not just what you say, it's also how you say it, and the non-verbal communication that you're giving across. Remember to watch your body language during a job interview, particularly your hand gestures, your posture, and your breathing.

What are the dos and don'ts of body language in an interview?

One of the most basic things to look for in a job interview, in terms of dos and not don'ts of body language, is to not move around with your arms and your hands too much. Too much gesticulation, too much animation, is a very bad thing. People feel intimidated by this kind of body language; it's too full on. Secondly, during a job interview, don't avoid eye contact with other people. It's very, very important that you try to link in with other people and try to keep their attention. Certainly, never ever move around too much when you're actually trying to demonstrate or present to people in a job interview. People don't want to look at a moving target - they want to look at somebody they can focus on. Also, in terms of body language and breathing, make sure that you're paced. Make sure you don't rush. Remember to breathe from your stomach, not just from your chest. You have to make sure that you are throwing out your voice effectively during a job interview.

Why is eye contact important in an interview?

Eye contact is very important in an interview because people see you as being more genuine if you can actually stare them in the eye. Its like the old phrase, "look me in the eye and tell me that". You're giving people a lot more confidence in you as an individual if you make eye contact. If you avoid eye contact then you're avoiding contact with them. People don't like that, its like you're trying to lie, like you're trying to hide something if you avoid eye contact.

Should I be cocky in an interview?

One of the worst things you can do in an interview is to be overly confident or cocky. It comes across as very arrogant. It's a major put off for a lot of interviewers. They don't want to see over confidence, by any means.

Should I ask about holidays or sick pay in an interview?

It's perfectly normal to actually ask how many days holiday you're entitled to within a year. Holiday is a statutory right, and the company has to provide holiday in your contract. However, it's probably not a good idea to ask how many days off sick you're entitled to. This may be looking it from an employers point of view, they may be thinking, “Well is this person like to be sick a lot and are they going to manipulate the system to the full extent?” I would strongly suggest you don't ask how many days you get off sick.