“Something in the way she moves…” goes the song by James Taylor.
It’s great advice when thinking about how to WOW the interviewer. Did you know that over 90% of the initial impression you create in the interview is non-verbal? And, that most of that is body language? It’s true.
How you present yourself is really important. Here are some things to keep in mind:
1. DRESS: Wear something that looks good on you, but even more importantly, you feel good wearing. You will want to feel like a million bucks. Dress proud. You know what I mean. You will want to put on clothes that make you say, “Dang, I look good!” Take the time the night before to get your clothes ready. Do your research so that you are wearing clothes appropriate for the setting. Some environments are more casual than others. Don’t worry. You don’t have to go out and spend money on a new outfit. You do have to make sure that you find a way to feel good in whatever you have to wear.
2. PERSONAL DETAILS/HYGIENE: “The devil is in the details,” says a close friend of mine. Pay attention to personal hygiene. Make sure that you are well-groomed. Take care that your hair is tidy, and not windblown, your nails are clean and not unkempt, your clothes are not wrinkled. You want to look “crisp”, but not stiff. You don’t want to look scruffy or disorganized. (NOTE about perfume/body spray: go easy on it. Nothing is worse in an interview than sitting in a closed room with someone who has doused themselves in overpowering perfume. OK, well, sitting with someone who forgot to take a shower is worse — and that has happened to me — but you get what I mean.)
3. WALK: You want to walk purposefully and with confidence. Don’t be cocky, just confident. Stride easily, don’t shuffle. Walk like you are someone…because you are.
4. SIT: Ready for this tip? Do not sit with your back against the back of the chair. I know that you might do this either because it comes naturally, or because you think that it conveys that you are comfortable and relaxed. Actually what happens is that you project low energy. People who tend to lean against the back of the chair tend to slouch a little and it’s hard to move and to project energy if you are just leaning back. Sit on the edge of the chair (but don’t fall off), feet firmly on the floor. This enables you to lean forward and gesture with your hands. It allows you to communicate with your whole body. Try it.
5. SMILE: Make sure that you can relax enough to smile easily. Don’t force a smile, just let it happen.
6. HANDSHAKE: Firm, but not bone-crushing, is the guideline. Definitely not limp or wishy-washy.
7. POSTURE: A key indicator of your confidence level is your posture. Make sure you are standing straight and tall.
Do these things and you’ll be sure to WOW’em.
And for more tips on how to WOW them, I invite you to download two FREE Interview Mini-Coaching sessions — to help you answer two of the toughest questions. Just go to http://www.TheVirtualCareerCoachBonus.com
You can listen online or receive MP3 files that you can download onto your iPod so that you can listen anytime. Each coaching session lasts about 15 minutes. And, it’s FREE!
From Leslie Evans Thorne — The Virtual Career Coach
