Did you know that your body language is responsible for 60% of your communications and that first impressions are nonverbal? Vanessa Van Edwards, from Science of People, shares some best practices for acing a job interview based on her team’s scientific research.    

Body language research shows us that the first thing an interviewer sees is called a ‘glance test.’ Humans used to use this first glance to determine if an approaching person was a friend or foe. It is an instinctive response we still use today, even though we may not be aware of it. To make the most out of our time in front of an interviewer Vanessa offers up these tips...

During a job interview applicants should:

• Nail the first impression by using expansive body language and making their hands visible.
• Shake the interviewer’s hand at the beginning and at the end of the interview.
• Demonstrate competence by aligning your body with the interviewer's body, nod to show you are listening and speak naturally.
• Use your portfolio or leave behind a document to open up an interviewer's closed body language.
• End the interview with a lean-in handshake and good eye contact.
• Walk side by side with the interviewer on your way out of the office.

If you feel like a winner and have a winner’s posture you will come across as a winner!

Vanessa Van Edwards Bio

Vanessa Van Edwards is a published author, behavioral investigator, and Huffington Post columnist. Her specialty is science-based people skills. Vanessa runs the Science of People, a Human Behavior Research lab and her unique approach has been featured on CNN, Forbes, NPR, BusinessWeek and in the Wall Street Journal. You can help further Vanessa’s research experiments by visiting the website and clicking on something that interests you.

Ben’s Job Search Resources:

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Jenna’s Find Your Dream Job Listener Question:

Ben, Jenna and Mac provide detailed, honest feedback to answer Haley Twist’s question - “Should job hunters ever consider applying for positions they don’t necessarily want, but are qualified for, to get their foot in the door at a company they really respect?”

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