Body Language in Interview
Improve Body Language in Interview
Did you Know? Studies show that 60% of communication is not about words—it’s about your body language, like how you sit, move, and look. Before you even speak, hiring managers notice if you seem confident, professional, and a good fit for the team based on these cues.
On this page we have provided top tips on how to improve body language during a virtual interview. Follow these tips when appearing for a virtual interview.
Page Highlights:
- What is Body Language?
- Why Body Language in Interview Matters?
- Types and Tips for Body Language
- Virtual Interview Body Language
- Mistakes to Avoid
What is Body Language?
Body language is how we communicate without words—through facial expressions, hand movements, posture, eye contact, and how we move. It shows how we truly feel, even more than what we say.
Why Body Language in Interview Matters?
Body language in interviews matters because it reveals your confidence, honesty, and engagement before you even speak. Interviewers subconsciously judge you on posture, eye contact, and gestures—often trusting nonverbal cues more than your words. Good body language makes you memorable, builds trust, and can outweigh even perfect answers if yours is weak.
Types of Body Language
Facial Expressions (smiles, frowns, raised eyebrows)
Gestures (hand movements, nodding, pointing)
Posture (slouching vs. standing tall)
Eye Contact (confident vs. evasive)
Proximity & Personal Space (standing too close or far)
Microexpressions (brief, involuntary facial reactions)
Tips for Body Language:
Posture
Posture means how you sit, stand, and carry yourself during the interview. A slouched or slumped posture indicates a lack of confidence and overall disinterest in the interview. Whether it is online or offline, maintain a healthy posture. Keep your back and shoulder straight. Sit up in your chair, do not lean back. Similarly, do not lean too much in the front.
Hand Gestures
Moving your hands while talking indicates that you are confident in what you are saying. While emphasizing your points, hand motions can be helpful. However, doing too much of it will come off as dramatic. Using too many finger pointings or chopping motions will look aggressive to the interviewer.
Greetings
The first step is greeting the interviewer. How you greet the interviewer shows whether or not you are comfortable and confident. A reserved greeting shows nervousness, while a too casual greeting will make you look overconfident and disrespectful. The best way is to start with a good morning/afternoon greeting followed by their name(if you know) else a Sir/ma’am. You can then follow up with a how are you doing question.
Fidgeting
It is common to fidget when you are nervous. However, too much of it will distract the interviewer. Avoid touching your face or hair as it shows that you are lying or are uncomfortable. Similarly, answering while rubbing your neck or looking away indicates that you might be lying. Keeping your arms crossed while talking makes you look insecure or defensive.
Eye Contact
Maintain eye contact when speaking to the interviewer. It will make you look confident and honest. Often when we lie, we tend to look away. During a virtual interview, keep your eyes on your web camera instead of the screen. In this way, you will be looking straight at your interviewer. If you have made any notes before the interview, keep them closer to the web camera.
Smile
A stoic face makes you look unapproachable. Similarly, keeping a constant smile will make you look not serious. Smile whenever you think it is appropriate. Like during introductions, if you are talking about something personal, or during the ending.
Mirroring
Often in a conversation, we tend to pick up the other person’s actions. Smile when they smile or cross your arms when they do. It is known as mirroring. During an interview, you can mirror your interviewer’s gestures to get an idea of what they are thinking. However, doing it too much will make you look manipulative and distract the interviewer.
Farewell
If you leave the interview without bidding a proper farewell, it will be a negative impression. You will look like someone too eager to go, not enjoying the discussion. In the end, briefly thank the interviewer for their time and bid them farewell.
Virtual Interview Body Language
For video interviews:
- Camera position – Keep it at eye level (don’t look down).
- Lighting – Make sure your face is bright (no shadows or bright light behind you).
- Stay steady – Avoid moving around too much.
- Show you’re listening – Nod slightly and say short things like “I see” or “That makes sense.”
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