The body language mistakes you’re making at work

YOU might be saying the right stuff and doing good work, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get ahead. Your body language may be jeopardising your whole career.

BODY language can convey a lot about people without them even uttering a syllable.

How you present yourself physically can make or break your career. While this paramount in a job interview, it also applies to most interactions at work, whether that be in a meeting, a pitch or just a chat near the office microwave.

Facial expressions, posture and other physical behaviours can reveal more about than words, according to CareerBuilder. Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder, said your body language can tell employers a lot about who you are.

“Employers are looking for those non-verbal cues to indicate a candidate’s level of professionalism and if they will be the right fit for the position,” Haefner said in a statement.

There are a variety of body language snafus that job candidates are making, according to hiring managers.

They say the 10 biggest faux pas job seekers make during interviews are the following:

- Failing to make eye contact

- Failing to smile

- Playing with something on the table

- Having bad posture

- Fidgeting too much in your seat

- Crossing your arms over your chest

- Playing with your hair or touching your face

- Having a weak handshake

- Using too many hand gestures

- Having a handshake that is too strong

The study revealed that nearly half of employers know within the first 5 minutes of an interview if a candidate is a good fit for a position. By minute 15, that number reaches 90 per cent.

To make the most out of your job interview, Haefner offers several tips, including:

Practice: Being prepared is the best way to avoid an interview disaster. Haefner recommends practising your interview skills ahead of time with friends or family members. When you’re finished, ask them for feedback on things like posture, your handshake and eye contact.

Wild gesticulations could cost someone an eye.

Use video: Job seekers can gain a lot of insight into their interview performances by making a video of their practice sessions. Haefner said watching yourself can help identify any mistakes you may be making unconsciously.

Know your elevator pitch: An elevator pitch is a 30-second speech summarising what you do and why you’d be a perfect fit for the role. Haefner believes that this is a good answer to the common interview question “Tell me about yourself.” In addition to having your answer ready, you should also be prepared to back up your claims later with specific examples that showcase your skills and experience.

Do your homework: Take time before an interview to research the company you are interviewing with and come prepared with several questions for the interviewer. Haefner said this helps show employers you’re just as interested in them as they are in you.

Relax: Haefner said taking a few deep breaths prior to the interview can help relieve some of the anxiety that leads to fidgeting and other nervous tics.

This is an edited version of an article which originally appeared on BusinessNewsDaily, and was reproduced here with permission.