The benefits of taping a practice interview session enables you to see how you can look alert, competent, and confident. You can refine actions that make positive impacts while learning to cut out the aspects that may cause negative impacts!
Rehearse body language as well as speech mannerism, and keep an eye out for the following harmful body language actions:
• Leg swinging
• Foot tapping
• Rocking from side to side
• Fiddling with your hair
• Waving around nervous hands
• Leaning back or slouching
• Crossing your arms
• Bowing your head frequently
• Darting your eyes
• Blinking slowly (comes across as disinterest or slow thinking)
• Touching your mouth constantly
• Forgetting to smile
Here are some helpful techniques to use to help you do well with your body language and speech in interviews:
• Look interested when you’re seated by leaning slightly forward with the small of your back against the chair.
• Look the interviewer squarely in the nose, and you appear to be making eye contact. You look open and honest. More earnest honesty is communicated by upturned, open palms.
• Pause and think before answering a question to seem thoughtful and unflappable.
• Refer to your notes, and you’re seen as one who covers all the bases. Just don’t make the mistake of holding onto your notes like they’re a life preserver.
• If you find your voice sounds tight and creaky on tape, try warming up your voice before an interview or your next practice run: Sing in the shower or in your car on the way to the interview.