In keeping with my last two posts, Getting into the Interview Mindset and Staying Positive During a Job Search, I’d like to offer another jobseeker tool—power posing.

Power posing came on the scene thanks to Amy Cuddy's 2012 Ted Talk, the second-most-popular Ted Talk in history. In it, Cuddy asserts that our body language has the ability to change our body chemistry, and in turn, impact our behavior and other people’s perceptions of us.

Cuddy’s research suggests that, for example, standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident, can boost our feeling of confidence and therefore have an impact on our chances for success. In a nutshell, holding a confident pose can actually change your mind and make you feel and appear more confident.

As Cuddy says, fake it til you become it.

There were some naysayers to the initial power posing research, but Cuddy successfully defended her findings with another study published in 2018. As a result, I think the technique is incredibly compelling and worthwhile when it comes to interviewing.

Before your next interview, try holding one of these poses for two minutes:

• Wonder Woman—hands on your hips, feet firmly on the ground twelve inches apart
• Victory Pose—both hands overhead like you just crossed a finish line

Another posture to try? Hold a smile for two minutes, placing a pencil between your teeth (if needed) to maintain the pose. Proven to put you in a happier mood, this is a great one right before a phone interview.

Interviewing is a nerve-racking experience. Give yourself every advantage by trying one of these poses. You’ll increase your chances of bringing your testosterone up (power and confidence) and cortisol down (stress and nerves).

Good luck, superheroes.