Do’s and Don’ts With Your Hands During an Interview
An interview is about more than a good resume and reliable answers to their questions. Body language also plays a big role . If you’re unsure of what to do with your hands during an interview, these tips will help.
In this video from the Business Insider YouTube channel , Joe Avella goes over a couple of great tips from the book Crazy Good Interviewing , John B. Molidor, Ph.D., and Barbara Parus. When you sit down with your interviewer, do:
- Show your palms: Opening your palms awakens truth, honesty and devotion.
- Fold your fingers together. The touch of your fingertips, like the politician or Mr. Burns in The Simpsons, shows confidence.
Do not do this:
- Hide your palms: Putting your hands on the table in front of you is a sign of dominance, as if you were trying to take control of the situation.
- Hide your hands: If you hide your hands, it suggests that you have something to hide. Keep them out of your knees and pockets.
- Tap your fingers: This shows impatience and is distracting.
You should also avoid folding your hands in your hands, overdoing hand gestures to emphasize a point (a little is fine), and never play with objects on the table . Body language can decide or interrupt an interview, so always remember how you act and how others might perceive you.