Teen Girls, College or Job Interview, and Acceptable Body Language

Congratulations! You received a request for a college or job interview! How you respond during your interview is the next major hurdle to cross. The butterflies may have already taken flight but do not worry. The following suggestions will help you bring those precious pretties in for a landing. 

Body language is what you communicate with your body or non-verbal communication. It is important as a teenage girl or young lady that you pay attention to what you speak with your words. It is just as important to be aware of what you communicate with your attire and body language. 

The following tips focus on acceptable body language for teen girls and young ladies during an interview. 

Eye Contact – Look your observers in the eye and refrain from looking down. If you are speaking to a group, give each member eye contact. One way to do this is by giving eye contact to each person who asks a question. This is a power tip that shows your strength and belief in yourself.   If there is just one person, give eye contact that shows you are paying attention, not staring.

Firm Handshake – Always give a firm handshake. It shows confidence in your presence and your belief that you are qualified and ready to accept the position or opportunity that is available.

Sit up straight – Your posture is very important.  It shows your listeners that you are very interested in what they have to say. During most interviews, you will sit directly in front of the person giving the interview. Sit up straight, and keep the fidgeting to a minimum.

Articulate and Speak Up – Let your words do the talking. Speak your words clearly and loud enough to be heard. You do not want the person giving the interview to ask you to speak up or lean in closer just to hear you. Boldly answer the questions in a manner that says, “the position is mine, and I am here to claim it”.

Say Yes or No- Refrain from saying uh-huh or mhm-hmm. Let your yes be yes and your no be no. Also, refrain from shaking your head up and down or side to side for your yes/no answers. Elaborate on your answers as if you are painting a verbal picture for your listeners.

Say Thank You – Always thank the individual(s) giving the interview. Let them know that you appreciate having had the opportunity to meet with them, and give another firm handshake before you depart. 

One final tip. Show your beautiful smile. That’s it!  If you have a few days or more before your interview, practice with a family member or a good friend.  By practicing, your responses will be as natural as breathing.

For information on The Proper Way to Dress for Success- The Do’s and Don’ts, please click here.

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