Body Language in Interviews

Body Language Do's

• Greet properly. A smile, eye contact and "Good morning" set the tone. Follow the interviewer's lead on a handshake.
• Sit still and upright. Feet flat on the floor. Don't sit on the edge of the chair.
• Hold eye contact naturally. In a panel, look mainly at the person who asked the question and glance at the others as you answer.
• Nod while listening. It shows you are following, especially during long questions.
• Use your hands to explain. Small gestures at chest height look natural and help your voice sound more confident.

Body Language Don'ts

• Crossing your arms, which can look defensive.
• Touching your face, hair or collar repeatedly.
• Shaking your leg, clicking a pen or playing with a ring.
• Looking at the ceiling or floor while thinking. Pause and look slightly away, then come back.
• Leaning back with your hands behind your head, even in a friendly interview.

Your Voice Is Body Language Too

Nervousness shows up in the voice first: speaking fast, trailing off at the end of sentences, rising tone as if every statement were a question. Slow down, finish each sentence at full volume, and let your voice drop at the end of a statement. See communication skills for interviews for more on delivery.

Body Language in Video Interviews

• Look at the camera when you speak, not at the interviewer's face on screen. That is what reads as eye contact on their side.
• Frame yourself from the chest up, camera at eye level, light in front of you rather than behind.
• Gestures stay in frame. Keep hands at chest height so the interviewer can see them.
• Nod a little more than in person. Small reactions get lost on video.

More in our video interview tips.

Practise in Front of a Camera

You can't see your own habits while you're answering. Record a practice interview on video and watch it once with the sound off: fidgeting, looking away and slouching become obvious. A P2P video interview with a real panel is the closest thing to the real day, and the AI mock interview helps you get the words right first.