4 Body Language Hacks to Nail Your Job Interview, According to a Psychologist

When it comes to job interviews, your body language can be just as crucial, and as communicative, as your resume.

According to Benjamin Granger, chief workplace psychologist at software company Qualtrics, your posture, expression and behavior are key to making a good first impression.

“When we meet somebody for the first time, what we don’t realize fully is that our brains are at work,” he says. “They are looking at the person’s face, they’re looking at the person’s body, they’re looking at how open or closed off they are.”

Subconsciously, those nonverbal cues influence your perception of that person, Granger says.

Start with a smile

This tip may sound obvious, but “it’s amazing what a simple smile can do” to build goodwill with your interviewer, Granger says.

Whether you realize it or not, most people can actually tell whether your smile is authentic or forced, he says.

According to Granger, a “real, genuine smile” causes small wrinkles at the edges of your eyes.

Open up your posture

Posture is another crucial communication tool, Granger says.

To make a good impression at a job interview, Granger recommends sitting in an “open body posture” with your shoulders back and hands separated. That body language communicates to your interviewer that you are engaged in the conversation, he says.

On the other hand, sitting in a closed body posture with crossed arms or legs might signal that you’re uninterested in the conversation, or possibly even hiding something.

Additionally, Granger says, make sure that your torso and legs are facing the interviewer squarely.

Deliver an even handshake

There’s an old adage that you can learn a lot about a person through their handshake — and it’s absolutely true, Granger says.

According to Granger, there are three main types of handshake, each with a different meaning.

An even handshake is “by far the best handshake to use in business and also in interviews,” he says.

In an even handshake, you deliver a firm squeeze with your palms parallel to the other person’s. “It communicates that you view the other person as your equal,” Granger says.

The underhand handshake, in which the other person’s hand sits on top of yours, signals that you are giving them the upper hand — literally.

The opposite is true for the over-the-hand handshake, which can communicate that you are trying to assert dominance.

Above all, be authentic

“The number one tip that I wish people would really believe in interviewing is just to be yourself,” Granger says.

Often, people feel like they have to “put on a show” in interviews, he says.

It’s natural to want to present the best version of yourself, but your body language will quickly reveal whether or not you are behaving authentically.

“If you fake it, they will know,” Granger says. Consciously or not, “there’s a pretty good chance that the interviewer is going to feel like something’s wrong.”

Instead, head into the interview with a positive, confident attitude.

“Assume that this is going to be an exciting experience,” Granger says. “Assume that you’re getting to meet somebody you’re about to work with for the next few years. That allows you to go into that meeting, meet that person for the first time, and give a really authentic, genuine smile.”