How can you improve your body language during an interview?

1 Align your body with your words

The first step to improve your body language during an interview is to align your body with your words. This means that you should use gestures, movements, and expressions that support and reinforce what you are saying, not contradict or distract from it. For example, if you are talking about your achievements, you can use open and expansive gestures to show your enthusiasm and confidence. If you are explaining a problem, you can use pointing or counting gestures to show your clarity and logic. However, you should avoid crossing your arms, fidgeting, or touching your face, as these can signal nervousness, defensiveness, or dishonesty.

3 Adopt a confident and comfortable posture

The third step to improve your body language during an interview is to adopt a confident and comfortable posture. Your posture can convey your level of confidence, energy, and readiness for the role. You should sit upright, with your shoulders back and your chest open, to show your confidence and competence. You should also lean slightly forward, with your feet flat on the floor and your hands on your lap or on the table, to show your interest and engagement. However, you should avoid slouching, leaning back, or crossing your legs, as these can signal your lack of confidence, enthusiasm, or respect.

4 Mirror the interviewer's body language

The fourth step to improve your body language during an interview is to mirror the interviewer's body language. Mirroring is a subtle technique of matching or mimicking the gestures, expressions, and tone of the person you are talking to. It can help you to establish rapport, empathy, and trust with the interviewer. For example, if the interviewer nods or tilts their head, you can do the same to show that you are listening and agreeing. If the interviewer smiles or laughs, you can do the same to show that you are enjoying the conversation. However, you should avoid mirroring too much, too obviously, or too differently, as these can make you seem creepy, fake, or disrespectful.

5 Adjust your body language according to the situation

The fifth step to improve your body language during an interview is to adjust your body language according to the situation. Different situations may require different types of body language to suit the mood, tone, and purpose of the conversation. For example, if the interviewer asks you a challenging or critical question, you can use a calm and composed body language to show your professionalism and resilience. You can also use a slight head tilt or a raised eyebrow to show your curiosity and willingness to learn. If the interviewer asks you a personal or casual question, you can use a relaxed and expressive body language to show your personality and authenticity. You can also use a head nod or a hand gesture to show your agreement and enthusiasm.

6 Practice and get feedback on your body language

The sixth and final step to improve your body language during an interview is to practice and get feedback on your body language. Practicing your body language can help you to become more aware, comfortable, and confident with it. You can practice by recording yourself answering common interview questions, watching yourself in a mirror, or asking a friend or a coach to observe and critique you. You can also get feedback by asking the interviewer for their impression of you, reviewing your performance after the interview, or seeking professional advice from an executive coach. Feedback can help you to identify your strengths and weaknesses, and to improve your body language accordingly.