Interview Body Language

Your interview body language can give the interviewer a strong indication about you and whether or not you are someone they really want to hire.

The job interview can be a stressful situation so the last thing you want to do is give the interviewer the impression that you are nervous.

Here are some interview body language tips:

1. Enter the interview by giving the interviewer(s) a firm handshake and look them in eyes when greeting them.

2. Don't slouch when you are sitting. Remember to sit up straight and try not to fidget since it is generally perceived as a sign of nervousness. Don’t tap your hands or feet or do anything else distracting.

3. Be careful of what you do with your arms. You might simply rest your arms on the chair rests so that you don't accidentally fold them in front of you (which is generally perceived as a defensive posture) or fidget.

4. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer(s) when answering questions but don’t stare at them constantly.

5. Watch the use of your hands and ensure that you aren't constantly moving them or gesturing with them to the point of distraction.

6. Be aware of the questions you are asked before you answer them. Don't give essay answers to "yes" or "no" questions. Conversely if the interviewer is asking for details, don't give them a yes or no answer.

7. Don't forget to smile especially if the interviewer appears to be a sociable person. While you don't want to spend the entire interview with a smile on your face, occasionally smiling helps to show enthusiasm and interest. Some interviewers will be strictly business and might not appear sociable but an appropriate level of enthusiasm on your part can be very disarming and helpful. Maybe they're just having a bad day.

While concentrating on your body language, don’t forget to pay attention to the interviewer's body language too!

They might be sending you subtle hints with how they act that you can use to your advantage.