The economy is picking up steam, and many of my clients are beginning to interview more. If you are struggling to make an impression while interviewing, consider these common errors and their remedies:

1) Closed g esture s – Over eighty percent of an interviewers impression of an interviewee is non-verbal. Crossing your arms is a big no-no. It conveys defensiveness, and can quickly degrade an interviewer’s impression of you. If you find yourself crossing your arms during an interview, see if you can redirect yourself and place them in a relaxed way on your knees.

2) Casual gestures/behavior – Like to relax in your chair as if you’re having a burrito with your buddies while interviewing? Bad idea. You don’t need to be stiff in your interview, but you want to avoid slouching or coming across as too casual. Let your spine be long and try to sit comfortably on your sit bones. See if you can let your shoulders relax. We reap what we sow; the more open and available you make yourself, the more open and available your interviewer is likely to be.

3) Under-speaking – You can do yourself a world of good simply by jotting down the questions you think you will be asked in an interview beforehand, and coming up with thorough answers for each of them. Go over your answers three to four times with a mentor or coach to get feedback and ensure excellence.

4) Lack of examples/stories – This is a biggie. Anytime you interview, and you are asked a question, you want to tell a pertinent story with a beginning, middle and end that illustrates the traits the interviewer is asking you to define. For example, if you are asked, “give us three adjectives that best describe you”, you might say “generous” for one of your adjectives, and tell a specific, detailed story about how you mentored a co-worker through an important transaction.

5) Lack of “I” statements – Don’t forget to put together a list of your three core strengths, the three qualities you have in abundance, and then circle around to them in the interview; “I think this story illustrates my determination” for example, or “I’ve learned to be as collaborative as possible”. Don’t be afraid to be direct with an interviewer, and put your best foot forward.

If you would like to work on your interview skills, contact me , and I can teach you a solid technique, and rehearse and record your interview to ensure excellence.