You may have heard that “the body speaks”, right? Body language says a lot about the individual, which is why it must be evaluated in job interviews in order to select candidates with the most aligned behaviors with the company.

For professionals who are looking for a job or promotion opportunity, being aware of the body’s reactions is essential. It is not possible to control body expressions 100%, as they occur instinctively and also naturally, but it is certain that exaggerations can be avoided, increasing the chances of success in an interview.

To help you understand body language, we have prepared this article. Follow it!

How can the interviewee behave in a job interview?

When selecting a candidate, recruiters observe certain signs that often last a few seconds, but are able to say a lot about a candidate, allowing the HR professional to interpret what the candidate is thinking and feeling.

Shaking hands

A sweaty hand when meeting with a recruiter is a sign of nervousness and anxiety. One way to avoid this is to go to the bathroom before the interview and cool off by getting your wrists and hands slightly wet. Also, it will help to relieve sweating.

As for compliance, keep your hand neutral during the handshake. In addition to the intensity of the handshake, which should be metered, when extending your hand to the interviewer, you should not try to put your hand on or under it. The reason is that it can give the impression of some dominance, which is not very good at the moment.

Eye contact

It is important to be careful with the power of the eyes, so as not to look too aggressive. So avoid a persistent stare that might make you look more like a stalker. But remember that eye contact is necessary.

Tone of voice

Pay attention to the change in the tone of the voice. When we are nervous, we tend to vary our tone and raise our voice.

Arms crossed

Arms crossed can indicate discontent and lack of connection with the interviewer. The ideal is to put your arm on the chair and, in the absence of supports, on the table or on your lap.

What should the interviewer analyze in relation to body language?

Body language consists of the union of actions that the human body performs unconsciously. Thus, it is easy to understand that it is composed of several signs, which can be analyzed by trained and also attentive people.

To help you conduct a job interview efficiently, we have listed below some useful tips for conducting interviews at your company. Follow it!

Posture

Posture is considered one of the main factors to be studied when it comes to body language. For the candidate for a job vacancy, it can be analyzed before the selection process even starts, while the individual waits to be called for the interview.

Generally, it is possible to understand how a bad posture, when the candidate presents with shoulders hunched or drooping, and head down.

In a work environment, this attitude is not understood as ideal because it can reveal the candidate’s shyness, insecurity and a probable low self-esteem, which can represent a hindrance to interpersonal relationships at work, being an issue that can affect negatively the productivity of the professional and also of the team , as a consequence.

Handshake

The handshake reveals relevant details about the candidate in the selection process and, therefore, deserves special attention during body reading. Through it is possible to analyze whether the candidate has a dominant characteristic.

For example, if the candidate reaches out and puts his own hand over the recruiter’s, in a way, he demonstrates that he wants to dominate the whole situation.

Many candidates – and even recruiters – understand this attitude as a positive attitude, showing confidence. However, it can also indicate a dominant posture in the work environment, which can cause inconvenience to the team, relationship with the leadership and other employees .

Eye contact

Some people feel uncomfortable when looking into other people’s eyes, so eye contact is avoided. However, this can demonstrate insecurity and also a lack of self-esteem and self-knowledge. In the work environment, this can also represent an inability for interpersonal communication, which can also damage the relationship with the team.

During the interview, it is interesting to see if the candidate looks away from all the questions, or just felt uncomfortable on one of them. In this second situation, it is important to insist on bettering understand the candidate’s profile. That way, it is possible to understand if the candidate is hiding something or if he just felt uncomfortable in the face of a certain situation.

Smile

The smile can reveal confidence or lack thereof, or even discomfort. Therefore, it is considered a fundamental factor in interpersonal relationships, and it also reveals sympathy and interest. Usually, individuals just avoid smiling in circumstances where they feel insecure or dissatisfied.

Therefore, it is interesting that the recruiter is aware of this issue, in order to analyze relevant indications regarding the skills of the candidates for a job vacancy in the company. The smile also reveals the individual’s level of confidence in himself.

What should the recruiter analyze in a video interview?

In times of crisis, video interviews are used by companies of all sizes and segments to optimize selection processes, reduce distances, and reduce costs for both candidates and companies. Here’s what to evaluate in a video interview!

Posture

Once again, the way the candidate sits in the chair in front of the camera reveals a lot about him and his interest in being part of the organization. A “loose” posture can indicate neglect and lack of interest, while an upright posture reveals that he is in the present moment, that is, attentive, and has an interest in what is being offered to him.

Look

Ignoring the camera can reveal discomfort or even that the candidate is playing a role, or wants to hide something. You need to insist on the questions to assess what may be happening.

Tone of voice

The candidate’s tone of voice can reveal whether he is interested in the vacancy. A very low and discouraged tone can reveal procrastination and lack of enthusiasm, which is terrible for those who haven’t even started working yet.

Facial expressions

Yawning, nose twitching, out-of-time laughter, among other facial expressions, can also reveal the candidate’s personality and interest in the vacancy. The ideal is that the professional remains attentive and with a physiognomy that accompanies the situations presented.

As we have seen throughout this reading, body language in the job interview is very important, as it reveals a lot about the candidates. So you need to be aware of them.

If you are a candidate, self-knowledge and the development of emotional intelligence can help you do better when it comes to body language in the job interview. For recruiters, studying the topic is fundamental to making the best hires.