How can you use hand gestures to convey confidence during an interview?

1 Why hand gestures matter

Hand gestures are not just random movements of your arms and hands. They are a form of nonverbal communication that can enhance your verbal message, express your emotions, and influence your audience. Research has shown that hand gestures can improve your memory, creativity, and clarity of speech. They can also make you appear more confident, trustworthy, and competent to your interviewer, who will be paying attention to your body language as well as your words.

2 How to use hand gestures effectively

To use hand gestures effectively during an interview, you need to follow some basic guidelines. First, use natural and spontaneous gestures that match your speech and personality. Don't force yourself to gesture if you are not comfortable with it, or copy someone else's gestures that don't suit you. Second, use moderate and controlled gestures that are appropriate for the context and the culture. Don't gesture too much or too little, too fast or too slow, too big or too small, or too close or too far from your body. Third, use varied and expressive gestures that convey your meaning and emotion. Don't use repetitive or vague gestures that don't add any value to your message, or contradict or confuse your interviewer.

3 How to avoid common hand gesture mistakes

When making hand gestures during an interview, it is important to be aware of the potential pitfalls. Crossing your arms or hands, pointing your finger, touching your face or hair, fidgeting with your hands, and hiding your hands can all indicate defensiveness, aggression, nervousness, anxiety, boredom, impatience, or lack of confidence. These gestures can create a barrier between you and your interviewer, make them feel attacked or offended, distract them from your message, reduce your credibility and professionalism, and suggest that you are hiding something. Thus, it is wise to use caution when using hand gestures during an interview.

4 How to practice your hand gestures

To improve your hand gesture skills, you need to practice them before and during the interview. Before the interview, it's a good idea to rehearse your answers and stories out loud while using hand gestures. You can record yourself on video or use a mirror to observe how your gestures look and feel. Additionally, you can ask a friend or a coach for feedback on your gestures and advice on how to improve them. During the interview, be conscious of your hand gestures and how they affect your communication. Utilize cues from your interviewer to adjust your gestures accordingly. If the interviewer is using lots of gestures, you can mirror them to build rapport and show interest. On the other hand, if the interviewer is using few or no gestures, you can tone down your own gestures to avoid overwhelming them.

5 How to adapt your hand gestures to different situations

Depending on the type and format of the interview, you may need to adapt your hand gestures to different situations. For example, when having a phone interview, you can still use hand gestures to help you think and speak clearly, but should avoid those that make noise or interfere with your voice. When having a video interview, you can use hand gestures to show confidence and enthusiasm, but should be mindful of the camera angle and screen size. When having a panel interview, you can use hand gestures to engage with multiple interviewers, but should be careful not to favor or ignore any. Open palms and nodding are inclusive and respectful gestures in this situation, while eye contact and body orientation can direct your gestures to the interviewer who is asking or answering the question.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?