Why Do Companies Choose One Qualified Candidate Over Another - Your Career Intel

Why Do Companies Choose One Qualified Candidate Over Another - Your Career IntelMany interviewers talk about having a gut feeling that a candidate is right for a position. When deciding between two or mora qualified candidates, this is often the deciding factor one candidate simply feels more right than the others.This seems like a factor that you cant control until you think about where that gut feeling comes from. As an executive recruiter who has interviewed hundreds of candidates over the years, I can assure you that the interviewer isnt psychic In fact, the feeling interviewers get from a candidate, especially in a in a face-to-face interview, comes largely from a subconscious interpretation of non-verbal signals.In the very first placement I made as an executive recruiter, the candidate I put forward was up against two equally qualified candidates. In preparation, we worked closely on his ability to convey confidence through body language and eye contact and I am certain its w hat helped him prevail.During your interview preparation, consider these six key ways you can convince employers you are right for the job in a face-to-face interview without saying a word.A Solid HandshakeBefore starting an in person interview, offer a firm but not crushing pfoteshake. If your hands are cold, rub them together a bit before entering. If you get sweaty palms then make sure you have a tissue in your pocket to ensure theyre dry.The Perfect PostureYou want to look confident but not tense. Achieve this by sitting up straight while keeping your shoulders relaxed. If you find yourself tensing up, take a deep breath and relax your muscles on an exhale. Use subtle changes in posture as well. Leaning back (a bit) is a more passive posture that helps convey you are listening while leaning forward (a bit) shows excitement and enthusiasm when making key points.Eye ContactToo little eye contact shows a lack of confidence but too much comes off excessively intense. The rule of thu mb is to maintain eye contact about 80% of the time, looking to the sides periodically. Even though glancing away periodically is a good thing, try to avoid looking at the floor, which can come across as shy or nervous.Using Your HandsKeep your hands relaxed. Beware of nervous tics like clenching your fists, playing with your hair or fidgeting with a pen that can be distracting and a lack of confidence. Also never, ever cross your arms in front of your body. Thats probably a pose your parents used when you misbehaved so its definitely not right for an interview.Talking with your hands is something that falls into a grey area. fruchtwein people will want to keep this to a minimum and gesture only occasionally for emphasis but be true to your personality. If youre animated by nature then using your hands when you speak can come across very positively.SmilingSmiling in an interview is great for conveying friendliness, warmth and general likeability but people innately sense when a smil e is fake. In the day leading up to your interview, do whatever helps put you in a good mood so that smiling comes naturally. Its the perfect way to let someone know that youre responding to what theyre saying or that you enjoy what youre talking about. Smiles are also contagious so it will increase the amount of positivity you receive from your interviewer.MirroringWell-proven science shows that when people have similar body language it creates a feeling of familiarity and closeness. Normally this is an unconscious process people mirror one another naturally. But it is also a powerful tool you can consciously use when interviewing. If your interviewer uses emphatic hand gestures when excited, consider doing the same. If they rest their chin on their hand when listening then use the same cue to show when youre listening. Dont get too crazy with this concept you dont want to look like youre mimicking and you dont want to deviate too far from the above best practices. But, subtly appl ied, mirroring is a tried and true technique.With all of this in mind, remember that the right body language can put you over the top only if your qualifications and responses to interview questions are on point as well.What other body language tips and tricks do you practice in your interview preparation?