September 3, 2018

Why is it Important to Smile During an Interview?

“A smile is a curve that sets everything straight – even your career!”

Whether you are a model, dentist, teacher or painter, a genuine smile can take you very far in life.

A smile is a symbol of well-being and self-confidence, both in your personal as well as professional life.  And the power of a warm smile is often underestimated during the process of a job interview. However, it is a very integral part of positive body language - which is again very important during an interview. Employers are always looking for someone who can gel easily with a team, and create a happy and positive work environment, thus boosting the company’s productivity.

Here’s why you shouldn’t forget to smile at your job interview:

1. for a good first impression

It is a fact that it only takes about 6-7 seconds for an average person to form an opinion about someone, when they are meeting for the first time. And when it comes to interviews, a good first impression can lead to better things in future.

So along with the all the interview preparation you do, a smile can instantly help you leave a good impression on your recruiter, right at the very beginning. You would come across as an amiable and enthusiastic person, who is easy to talk to – something that recruiters are always looking for, in a candidate.

2. Shows your confidence

Imagine a situation where, you are at your workplace, and you need some help with the work that has been assigned to you. You look over at your colleagues and see one with a frowning face, and another with a smiling one. Who would you approach for help? Obviously the smiling one!

Remember that recruiters are always on the lookout for those smiling colleagues, not the frowning ones. Nothing reveals the best things about your personality better than a smile. A genuine smile will always instil trust, exude confidence and at the same time convince people around you that you are approachable. All these qualities are highly desirable in an employee. Hence, it is important that you showcase these qualities right from the start.

3. Lets you recover from your mistakes

Studies reveal that if you smile after committing a small social mistake, it can actually help you to take control of the situation and rectify it. An embarrassed or sheepish smile is a sign that you realized you’ve made a mistake, accepted it and are ready to move on.

You may make a mistake during an interview process, probably due to nervousness, and the best thing to do for handling such a situation, is to shrug it off with a smile and rectify the mistake. This is a much better option compared to ignoring or denying the problem, and going back with regrets.

4. For a desirable and pleasant environment

Have you noticed the fact that you tend to get happy when you see people around you smile, even if you are meeting them for the first time? A smile is very contagious, and majority of people will smile back at you if you greet them with one. Smiling is also known to reinforce and promote happy feelings of pleasure and joy.

Therefore, if you want to enjoy your interview and create a lighter atmosphere in the process, make sure you smile when you meet the interviewer.

5. Smile in telephonic interviews

Interviews are not always face-to-face; they could be telephonic as well. Interview platforms like
interviewfox.com, allow you to schedule and take telephonic pre-screening interviews and create an audio profile as well.

Just because the interviewer can’t see you in a telephonic interview, don’t forget to smile! The sound of your smile reaches the interviewer through your voice. Smiling not only makes you sound confident and excited, but also takes away your nervousness and makes you feel better. You will be more attentive and engaged during the whole process, making your recruiter convinced that you are the best candidate for the job.

Beware of the Fake Smile

“Fake a frown, you hurt others. Fake a smile, you hurt yourself.”

A genuine and positive smile is important as it can prove to be a very big advantage during an interview. However, what is more important is that you do not force or fake a smile during the process.

People can easily recognise a fake smile, especially an interviewer who is well aware of the different body languages and behaviour of candidates. A fake or a forced smile is often associated with hiding your true self, by not letting the world know what you truly are. This can have a negative effect and you may come across as an insincere and dishonest person. In some situations, it can also make the interviewer feel uncomfortable, and you may lose the job opportunity even before realising where you went wrong.

Remember:

You can practice introducing yourself or answering questions in front of a mirror, with a smile, to make sure that you are not overdoing it.

Smiling will mean showing your teeth. So if you have eaten anything just before an interview, check that there are not remnants of food stuck in the teeth that can lead to an awkward moment later!

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Article Source: https://www.interviewfox.com       
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