Interview Advice, Part Two: Effective body language

I’m a firm believer in making sure you get the dress code right ahead of an interview. Maybe this point belongs more in the previous piece in this series, in which my colleagueSpencer Tarrantcovered interview preparation so thoroughly. However, I’ll mention it here as what you wear will likely have a bearing on how you come across in the room.

Dress codes can be very difficult to navigate these days, as there’s so much variation across companies and industries about what constitutes smart or smart casual. The best way to get it right is to speak to your recruiter – or, better yet, someone in the organisation, if possible – about company norms. If you’re really in doubt, it’s better to be cautious and assume it will be more intense than you think it will be. If you present formally but sense the atmosphere is relaxed, it’s much easier to wind down to the interviewer’s level than to go in dressed casually and then find yourself having to match the hiring team’s more serious demeanour. You’ll be on the back foot from the beginning, and it will be very hard to make up ground.

This can be especially true when navigating between video and in-person interviews. Nowadays, the hiring process often begins with the former and moves onto the latter. We typically find that people have different expectations for real-life meetings as opposed to onscreen, so don’t assume that just because the video call went well that you have the in-person interview in the bag.

Much of the advice about body language in interviews is common sense. You don’t need me to tell you to offer a firm (but not bone-crushing) handshake, sit up straight, and not to fidget. I presume this isn’t your first rodeo!

However, I think it’s worth remembering that body language marks another variable in the move from virtual to in-person interviews. It’s much harder to get a sense of someone over webcam, making your first impression on the call yet more important. Make sure you’re happy with your lighting and camera angle beforehand, and triple-check your internet connection and login details, if relevant, for a Teams or Zoom meeting. The last thing you want is to start off flustered and late because you were struggling to get online. As for eye contact, don’t look at the screen (certainly not at yourself in the corner) but directly at the camera to make a direct impression. Just make sure you stay on the right side of the line between ‘holding eye contact’ and ‘staring’ and you’ll be fine.

A good way to establish a connection in an interview, no matter the setting, is to mirror your interviewer’s body language. That doesn’t’ mean to copy them if they sneeze or scratch their nose, but to take your cues around nodding, contact statements, and posture from them. My last point here would be that when you’re meeting in person – and have established whether you can dress down or if you need to scrub up – wear clothes you’re familiar with and can rely on. It might be tempting to put on that new pair of smart shoes, but wincing in pain while trying to answer a question is never a good look.

‘Be yourself’ is classic (and cliched) advice, but it’s cliched for a reason: it’s true! You should never feel like you have to play a character to get the role. Hiring managers are much likelier to buy into you if they feel you’re acting authentically, as opposed to someone playing a version of themselves. Even if you do try to front, you won’t be able to keep it up if you get the job, so why try it in the interview? It won’t help.

Instead, you’re much better off concentrating on getting the right balance between being informal, calm, and relaxed while nonetheless showing you’re serious about the position. Think light-hearted and friendly without playing the joker. That advice is more relevant to junior applicants, though something that applies to interviews at all stages is this: you should go in with the thought that you’re interviewing them as much as they’re interviewing you. You need to know if it’s somewhere you think you could work well and if you align with the company profile, not just whether you fit the job description.

Of course, there is always a balance of power in an interview that needs to be respected – but still, it should feel more like a two-way conversation rather than a grilling. After all, good organisations look for people to challenge them, as well as contribute. If you find you can’t engage in a way that sits comfortably before you even start, there will likely be questions from both parties as to whether it’s the right place for you to work.

I’ve alluded to this above, but while it’s worth noting that many of the senior candidates we place don’t interview very often due to the nature of executive search, it’s also important to emphasise that the world is small. My final piece of advice is that you should be conscious during your meeting about how you form part of a wider network. Remember that even if you don’t get the job, you will likely meet the people who interview you again at some point, so being gracious and making a good impression is key. After all, it may not be a ‘no’, just a ‘not now’!

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