Before  your next job interview, consider the power of nonverbal communication cues to help you stand out to the hiring manager.

Many times the people who look the best on paper are not actually the best people to hire for a service oriented hospitality job. By the time you sit down for the actual interview, the interviewer will already have some opinions about your confidence, self-esteem, and other key characteristics just by the way you carry yourself or greet people. Learn how to communicate not just with words but through actions, to increase your chances of getting a favorable response from employers. 

Dress to Impress

When you have a restaurant interview or foodservice interview, pay attention to your attire. .Someone who is well dressed and professional will give the same positive vibe to their colleagues and customers. If someone comes in who is poorly groomed, smells of too much perfume, or has scuffed shoes, then hiring managers might think twice about hiring him or her. Good hygiene, tasteful makeup, and professional dress are all signs of pride and good self-esteem. These are positive qualities that are crucial to anyone working in a foodservice job, hotel job, or any other hospitality job.

Greeting Your Potential Employer

How do you greet your interviewer? Do you give asolid firm handshake or a weak and limp one? These sorts of details will also give hiring managers an idea of your self-esteem and professionalism. The handshake should be firm, but not overpowering. Someone who squeezes too hard is signaling an overbearing personality or aggressiveness. A weak handshake may signal low self-confidence, another negative point for an employer.

How You Speak

Focus not only on what you say, but how you say it. A good potential employee will answer interview questions succinctly. They should speak in an even tone and clearly without mumbling. Someone who mumbles or whispers in an interview suggests they may be a weak employee who doesn’t take much initiative in the workplace. Someone who is too loud during the interview may also be aggressive in the workplace.

The Eyes Say It All

Pay attention to where you looking during the job interview. Make good eye contact and focus on the questions. If you look around the room, this could signal you are not focused and easily distracted. On the other hand, if you stare too intently, you may give off an overbearing persona. Someone who makes no eye contact at all is giving a sign that they could be untrustworthy. 

Body Language

In a job interview, the best candidates will be sit upright with good posture, but still at ease. Slouching is a sign of sloppiness or just not caring. Good posture shows good self-esteem and confidence. Someone who is leaning back with her arms above their head or is taking over the space or desk with a notepad is displaying aggressiveness and this behavior is sure to show up in the workplace.