7 Body Language Tips During Interview

1. Interview posture - how to sit in your interview

When the interviewer offers you a seat at the start of the job interview, sit upright and be relaxed but not too stiffly in your chair. This indicates that you are comfortable and feeling confident. Hunching down in your chair gives the impression of nervousness and low self-esteem.

A sloppy posture indicates a careless attitude and a lack of energy. Sitting on the edge of your chair can come across as being nervous and tense.

2. Mirror the interviewer's body language

·         It is important to pay attention to the posture of your interviewer. You can establish rapport by adopting the same posture as the other person. This is called mirroring.

·         If they have adopted a more formal posture do the same until you see that the interviewer has relaxed and become less formal.

3. Interview body language - what to do with your hands

• If you are unsure of what to do with your hands, rest them loosely clasped in your lap or on the table in front of you. Control your hands by being aware of what you are doing with them.

• Having your hands above the neck, fiddling with your face or your hair, is unprofessional and conveys nervousness and anxiety.

·         Keep your hands away from your face.

·         Folding your arms across your chest suggests a closed and defensive attitude.

·         Waving your hands and arms around can be perceived as uncertainty and a lack of professionalism. Common wisdom is that the less you move your arms and hands about the more confident and in control you are.

4. Be aware of your legs

• Lots of leg movement is both distracting and indicates nervousness.
• Resting one leg or ankle on top of your other knee makes you look too casual and comes across as arrogant.
• Crossing your legs high up conveys a defensive attitude in the one-on-one context of a job interview.
• Crossing them at the ankles or placing both feet flat on the floor conveys a confident and  professional look during the job interview.

5. Make eye contact

·         If the interviewer is talking and you want to show that you are actively listening, you need to instigate direct eye contact and maintain it.

6. How to monitor your voice delivery

·         Speaking in a clear and controlled voice conveys confidence.

·         Avoid speaking in a monotone by varying your tone and pitch.

·         Breathe and pause before answering a question, this gives you time to react in a considered way and it ensures that the interviewer has finished the question.

7. Avoid displaying too much emotion

·         Generally it is advisable not to show too much or too strong emotion during your job interview. Smile and nod at appropriate times but don't overdo it. Avoid intense facial expressions, gesticulations and erupting into laughter on your own.