Importance Of Body Language During Interviews (With Tips)

Updated 5 September 2023

Body language is one of the many nonverbal cues that contribute to how others around you perceive you. One of the many ways you can express your confidence, enthusiasm and appreciation in a firm and its vacant position is through your body language. Learning how to read, interpret and use body language to your advantage can be beneficial, especially in interview settings. In this article, we examine the importance of body language during interviews and provide a list of tips, that can help you display confidence during an interview, using body language.

Importance Of Body Language During Interviews

Body language during interviews can play a role in how a hiring manager perceives you. While body language is not the only aspect of what the hiring manager could pay attention to, you may make efforts to incorporate a range of cues to appear confident. The following are aspects of body language you can monitor, if possible, during an interview:

Posture

Posture refers to the manner in which people hold their bodies while interacting with others. Your posture can indicate how interested you are in what you are participating in, whether it be an interview or a casual conversation. Maintaining a straight posture typically communicates that you are involved in a conversation.

Positioning of legs and arms

You can use the positioning of your limbs to indicate that you are at ease and display confidence during an interview. Individuals may experience different comfort levels while holding a particular position, and it is vital to identify limb positions that you can comfortably hold over an extended period of time. For instance, try to maintain an open posture, with your hands resting comfortably on your lap. This can potentially make you appear approachable and welcoming.

Consider being mindful of minor actions that you subconsciously perform during the conversation. Repetitive or quick motions with your limbs can take an interviewer's attention away from what you may be verbally communicating. Being aware of your hand gestures and limb positioning can help you regulate your presence to match the tone of the interview setting.

Eye contact

One nonverbal method of expressing emotion is through maintaining eye contact. Direct eye contact throughout a conversation conveys confidence and also indicates that a person is paying attention and is engaged in a discussion. During an interview, it is common to shake hands with the interviewers towards the close of a session. While shaking hands, you can maintain eye contact to convey sincerity and also to allow an interviewer to register your face well.

Mouth

Movements around the mouth that are subconscious might occur swiftly and be subtle, often going unnoticed. It is ideal to maintain a positive demeanour throughout the interview and greet every person involved in the interview process with a genuine smile. This can make you seem approachable and can improve the comfort levels of all involved parties.

What Is Confident Body Language?

A person can express confidence and absence of worry in a scenario by using confident body language. You can convey the degree of satisfaction you experience in a conversation using nonverbal cues and body language. In both professional and private settings, one can convey confidence through their physical demeanour. Indicating confidence usually requires a person to be aware of and control:

Body movements
Hand gestures
Facial expressions
Posture
Touch
Tone of voice

Tips For Displaying Confidence Using Body Language

Here are some techniques you can employ to exude confidence during interactions with others:

Keep your chin up

To project confidence, maintain your chin and head up. A chin tilted down typically indicates submission, but an upward tilt shows engagement. To keep your head up, it can be helpful to imagine a cap or any other object on your head.

Offer a firm handshake

A firm handshake is one way to leave a lasting impression on interviewers. While offering your hand, make sure to hold it firmly to convey confidence. Based on how large your hand is in comparison to the other person's, choose a soft or tight grip. Shake hands repeatedly in the air after coming into contact, before letting go.

Consider your facial expressions

Maintaining confident facial expressions while dealing with others is crucial as they may convey what you are thinking. You can smile to convey that you are enjoying yourself and feeling at ease. Be aware of how your face usually rests and try to maintain a cheerful look.

Mirror others

Mirroring other people might help you connect and seem more relatable. While mirroring, take into account the language the other person uses, the kind of conversations they prefer and their normal speaking volume. You may show how much you relate to or agree with someone by mirroring their body language.

Monitor the pace of your speech

Monitor the number of words you use each minute and how quickly you speak when speaking. For routine conversations, speak quickly to keep your audience interested. Slow down while explaining complicated information to make sure that an audience has the time to comprehend the information you are sharing.

Consider personal space

To demonstrate that you are actively participating in a conversation, lean forward just a little towards the person with whom you are conversing. Standing two to three feet apart is generally acceptable. Place your feet hip-width apart when giving a presentation in front of people to command attention.

Tips For Performing Well In An Interview

During an interview, consider the qualities you want your body language to convey when you are interacting with others. Here are some tips to help you perform well in an interview setting:

Prepare well and arrive on time

Take some time before an interview to organise your materials and review details of the position, the hiring team and the organisation to which you are applying. Turn your phone off or leave it on mute. As you might start engaging with company employees as soon as you walk into an interview room, it is vital that you prepare yourself for the interaction.

Examine your body language

It is beneficial to modify your posture as required before entering a room. If you cross your legs while sitting down, it might become inconvenient and an interviewer may assume that you are uninterested in the job. Some behaviours that are often associated with agitation or anxiety, such as jiggling your knee or tapping a table, can also be distracting.

Be attentive while listening

Being an attentive listener demonstrates your interest in what an interviewer is saying. When an interviewer is speaking, pay attention to your usage of nonverbal signs like smiling or nodding, to show that you are paying attention. These gestures demonstrate that you understand the interviewer and concur with their point of view.

Emphasise your interpersonal skills

Most employers want to know whether you can collaborate well with others. Be prepared to talk about your experience and expertise in leading a team or engaging in a leadership role, and provide instances of your success in these areas. These examples can potentially demonstrate to a recruiting manager that you are a pleasant person who can easily integrate into a company.

Follow up with an email

Sending a thank-you note as soon as possible after your interview is a great approach to differentiate yourself from other applicants. Hiring managers are likely to appreciate your reaching out and it can increase your chances of being hired. Besides expressing gratitude for their concern and time, attempt to be as descriptive as possible. You may, for instance, explain a fact or detail you learnt about the position that heightened your enthusiasm for the opportunity. These specifics might highlight your interest and show your engagement in an interview.

Non-verbal communication is one of many tools that can help you make a good impression in interviews and in your professional life. But, candidate assessments are required to be based on skills and qualifications, and workplaces require to strive for being inclusive and understanding of individual differences in communication styles.

Importance Of Body Language During Interviews (With Tips)