Mannerisms to Avoid During a Job Interview

Going on a job interview? As you practice answering key questions, think about your body language. According to researcher John Borg, 93% of human communication is non-verbal. As a consequence, how you behave (physically) may affect whether or not an employer hirers you. With this thought in mind, below are six mannerisms you want to avoid in a job interview. Do them and plan on living in your parent's basement for an eternity. Don't:

Bow your head.
Are you ashamed of yourself or a past misdeed? If not, hold your head up high as you discuss your qualifications during a job interview. Make eye contact and show you are a confident person who can take on any task.

Ball up your fists.
Balled fists signal that you might be angry or uptight. Unless you're auditioning for a role of a bitter old man, this mannerism is one you want to avoid in a job interview. Watch how you pose your hands since they often reflect a person's innermost emotions - positive and negative.

Fold your arms.
Want to look like you're not open to anything? Fold your arms throughout a job interview. Your potential employer will believe change comes hard to you and that you may be difficult to work with. Aim to keep your arms to your sides or resting on your lap, so you appear easy going.

Shift your eyes.
A mannerism to avoid in a job interview is shifting eyes. Although this behavior may just be a result of dry contacts, you will still look shady. Your potential employer will think you're untrustworthy and possibly the next office thief. Stay focused and look directly into the eyes of whoever is talking to you.

Tap your fingers.
Are you in a hurry or what? Finger tapping is always associated with impatience. Control this habit by clasping your hands and laying them on your lap until the job interview is over. This way, you seem patient and engaged in the moment.

Sigh heavily.
Heaving sighing is equivalent to eye rolling. For this reason, this mannerism is one you want to avoid in a job interview. You look as though you have a poor attitude, one that will cause trouble on the job or at least bother a well-meaning boss.

See how body language can affect the outcome of a job interview? Consider yours and impress a potential employer the next time you go job hunting.

Also see: Six Ways to Be Smarter Than a 5th Grader