Are you planning to appear in a job interview? And definitely, you must have prepared well for the interview questions. At the time of job interviews, the way you present yourself is just as important as what you say to the interviewer.
Surprisingly, your body language is an important indicator of your comfort, confidence, and interest during an interview.

"There are four ways, and only four ways, in which we have contact with the world. We are evaluated and classified by these four contacts: what we do, how we look, what we say, and how we say it."

- Dale Carnegie

As aptly expressed by the renowned American writer, Dale Carnegie and the author of How to Win Friends and Influence People, one of the best-selling self-help books of all time, your body language for an interview can help or hurt your level of success. To maximize your interviewer’s true interpretation of your messages, you must align your posture, facial expressions, and other nonverbal cues with your verbal message.

Neglecting or ignoring the importance of body language in an interview can risk your chances of getting selected for the job applied. Even if you have given flawless answers to every question asked in an interview.

According to hiring experts, during an interview, your body communicates things to your interviewer, which shows how you feel about yourself at that moment and projects your emotions to the interviewer. There are certain actions and body postures that may indicate negative emotions such as nervousness or arrogance, while others may display interest and ease.
A positive body language allows the interviewer to focus on what you are saying rather than how you appear. When the interviewer can easily comprehend what you are saying, you are more likely to be selected for the job.

Hence, your body language in a job interview must show you as a confident, positive and capable person.
Rozgar.com shares some of the effective body language during an interview that you can follow to master the art of presenting yourself in a job interview.

1. Maintain good posture

Once you are in the actual interview, keep your body posture straight, attentive, and slightly leaning forward rather than bent and dull. And never sit with your legs and arms crossed since it gives an impression that you’re restricted and not open to their views. Be aware of your posture at all times.

2. Do not be too timid or rigid

Your body language during an interview, such as slumping, may conclude that you’re scared, and leaning back in the chair can give the impression of not taking the conversation seriously. Avoid such body language for interviews.
Nod and smile to indicate you are listening to the interviewer when they are speaking. These actions show you understand what the interviewer is saying and agree with their statements.

3. Make effective eye contact

During a job interview, make firm eye contact with the interviewer, but look away when it feels natural to do so too. This is because too little eye contact gives the appearance of nervousness, while too much shows aggressive behavior.
Try to imagine that you are having a comfortable conversation with a friend during the interview to guide your eye contact. Interviewers always look for candidates who are flexible and polite to join their organization.

4. Be responsive

When in an interview, nod and smile occasionally. These actions indicate that you understand what the interviewer is saying and agree with their statements. Make use of your hands by way of subtle gestures, such as touching your fingertips, clasping palms, and moving your fingers as you speak – these are signs of honesty and openness. While clenching fists and waving hands while speaking shows that you’re nervous and unpredictable. So, avoid them altogether!

Frequently Asked Questions