Introduction to interview body language 

 Your body language will reflect your competence for the job during an interview. Your interview body language is critical in determining whether you will succeed or fail in your job. In addition, your body language in an interview speaks louder than your words. Your interviewer will form an opinion of you based on how you portray yourself. This is a point in life where you should give your best.

 What is the definition of body language?

 Body language is a form of non-verbal communication. Your posture, facial expressions, and body movements communicate your emotions. Most of the time, body language communication is unconscious. It can be regulated and controlled with conscious effort.

 The importance of body language in an interview

 During a job interview, your body language communicates your personality to the interviewer. Certain movements convey negative feelings, while others convey positive feelings. Positive body language communication gestures attract the interviewer's attention to you. When the interviewer can analyse your responses fast, you increase your chances of being called back with an offer letter.

 Practice Body Language for interviews

 While rehearsing your responses to popular interview questions, you should work on your body language. Instincts tend to take control when you're frightened, and you must learn to combat them. Practice with friends or a professional interview coach to ensure that you are aware of and control your body language in an interview. 

Make time to practise in front of another person or a mirror. Sit in your computer or living room chair in your interview attire and determine which position seems the most natural. You can practise with a friend and get helpful comments. They may notice your eyes stray or fiddle with your hands when confused. Here are the top 10 interview body language tips.

 Create a Vibrant First Impression

 The interview will begin immediately upon your entry into the building. It is important to ensure you show body language and communication gestures of respect to interviewers. The first time you enter the office, establish confident eye contact with every person you meet and introduce yourself. If they ask you to sit in the waiting room, refrain from using your phone and sit comfortably. This type of body language in interviews is misinterpreted as boredom and passiveness. And always sit straight in a composed posture and wait till they call your name. When greeting the interviewer, rise and extend a warm grin and a strong handshake to introduce yourself.

Establish Eye Contact with the interviewer

 Eye contact is important in interviews since it demonstrates self-confidence and attentiveness. While attending the interview, you should not be glancing around the interview room or looking at the time. This gives the impression that you are exhausted. 

However, it extends beyond assurance and concentration. Eye contact is necessary for establishing connections and partnerships. Interviewers will not feel connected if you don't establish a connection with them with your eyes. Your primary goal should be to connect with your audience and elicit an internal response to what you're communicating. Failure to make eye contact with the interviewer will keep him away from whatever you say. After all, an interview is a chat with another person. Establish a deep relationship at that time, which will help you in the long run.

 Besides, keep in mind that maintaining eye contact without changing your facial expressions is called staring and may make the interviewer feel awkward or hostile. Attempting to keep eye contact for a few seconds is fine and advisable. When dealing with many interviewers simultaneously, recognise the person who asked the question first but maintain eye contact with each of them.

 Be Receptive

 Naturally, you convey to the interviewer everything to know about yourself, achievements, accomplishments and experiences that qualify you as the ideal candidate. However, listen to what they have to say with maximum focus and take part in the interviewer's conversation. They'll test your intrapersonal and interpersonal skills, experience, and credentials. How you conduct yourself while not speaking is critical to the impression you will make.

 The aim is to maintain a state of alertness and responsiveness as a part of the interview body language. During an interview, lean slightly toward the interviewer. This communicates your receptive, interesting, and engaging nature in the discourse. A single nod will show that you're paying attention. A Simple tilt of your head to a side is a positive body language communication gesture that might help you appear nice and accessible.

 Beware of Your Posture

Sitting in a chair with a straight and strong posture conveys a message of confidence and trustworthiness. It is advised that you do not droop forward or backwards, as this stance conveys a very casual and careless attitude. 

A slouching posture implies a lack of vitality and self-confidence. Therefore, ensure that you sit straight and consider keeping your shoulder line parallel to the chair. Also, being stiff indicates nervousness, and it is not all a positive interview body language. If you're having difficulty sitting upright, try lifting yourself from your chair. While sitting, you should have a consistent balance of your upper body. Maintaining an upright, straight stance from the minute you enter the reception area. And when a question is asked, lean forward to show your interest and participation. Avoid crossing your arms during an interview. This behaviour suggests defensiveness, nervousness, and a desire for self-protection during an interview. If given a choice of seats, choose the straight one, cushioned chairs may be comfortable, but they won't let you sit elegantly.

 You must take care of your hands.

 Interviewers attempt to learn your personality. It is important to ensure that you don't say anything you don't want to with your body language. But, using hands while speaking is a good body language communication gesture. It is better not to suppress them, as it may result in excessive fidgeting. So, loosen up and speak efficiently with your hands. 

Otherwise, please keep your hands on the desk in front of you or keep them on your lap and remain still while not speaking to avoid causing an unnecessary distraction to the interviewer. This also helps to avoid slouching and keeps you ready for the next answer. When you are through taking notes, put the pen down. 

Interview body language involves making subtle signals with your hands. Touching your fingertips, clasping your hands, and wiggling your fingers while talking are open body language communication gestures and indications of sincerity and openness. 

Clenching your fists and gesturing with your hands while speaking are examples of negative body language in interviews, indicating that you are tensed and unpredictable. During the interview, nail-biting is a severe no-no since it will make you appear concerned and distracted. Candidates who regularly touch their faces are viewed as dishonest and crooked. Touching the body by combing one's hair or massaging one's nose is not an acceptable interview body language. If that is natural, you may speak with your hands, but keep your palms open. Palms facing upward suggest that you have nothing to conceal and are confident in your message.

 A smile is your best weapon.

 Smile is an interview body language booster. Do it Whenever possible, enhance your body language by smiling throughout the interview to create a positive atmosphere throughout the office. Smiling intermittently demonstrates that you are at ease with the interview's flow. Maintain a somewhat balanced grin - neither unhappy to appear timid nor too happy to appear foolish.

 It is implicit that you must listen carefully and avoid interrupting the interviewer. If feasible, laugh with the interviewer when he or she says something humorous or quirky. This demonstrates that you are sensitive to what is being said and paying attention to what is being spoken.

 Maintain a single location

 Maintain a calm position throughout your body, from your fingertip motions to your legs. Otherwise, it may signify boredom or impatience with the intake process and interview if you continue to fidget. Your posture will be upright, and you should not focus on anything else except the interviewer. This will make you appear more concentrated and engaged in the discussion. Sit in the most comfortable position from the beginning and try not to move around the chair to maintain a composed interview body language. 

Mirror your interviewer

 Always remember that the interviewer is the most important person in the room. Be a carbon copy of your interviewer. Mimic the interviewer's body language is one of the top job interview techniques. But you should not deliberately copy your HRM and have it backfire on you. 

Match your positive body language with theirs to swiftly earn the interviewer's favour. However, go cautiously to avoid appearing overly aggressive or flamboyant in your attempt to "imitate" them. Nod your head if they do the same or gently adjust your stance in response to their gestures of shared body language. 

Maintaining a courteous and professional demeanour toward the interviewer is the most critical aspect. From the initial handshake to the gracious farewell, demonstrate respect for the other to gain their attention. 

Try to Avoid Crossing Your Legs

 The majority of body language experts advise avoiding crossing your legs during interviews. Crossing legs is a closed body language communication gesture. It conveys the meaning that you are defensive and not receptive. You don't wanna portray such body language in an interview. While you cross your legs, you unconsciously distance yourself from the interviewer, who will make the communication between you more complex. 

Exit in a position of strength

 Regardless of how you feel about the interview you recently attended, ensure that your departure is strong as your arrival. We are frequently our worst critics, and it will do you no favours to show your displeasure by succumbing to that slump or gazing at your feet.

 Repeat the steps from the entry, including a genuine grin and a strong handshake, but this time include a "thank you" for your interviewer's time. Restore your chair to its position before leaving, and keep your shoulders back as you close the door behind you. 

Maintain your energy if the interviewer leads you to the exit or lobby. You may use this time to ask broad inquiries or engage in pertinent small conversation, whatever feels most natural. Even if you're alone or required to wait for an elevator or transportation in a visible location, keep your interview body language and composure until you're no longer visible.

 Conclusion

 Joblessness is a challenge of age. The job market is thin when compared to the number of qualified applicants. Getting a job with a decent salary is a dream of most youngsters and their parents. Many qualify for the initial tests and fail in the interviews. They do not lack knowledge in the subject, but they lack something more important. They could not communicate many things they wanted and communicated many things they did not want the interviewer to know. This happened because they ignored the importance of body language in interviews. 

This article is meant to help the ones who could not end up in a decent job as they ignored the importance of body language in interviews. All the best for your upcoming interviews; make sure to stun the interviewer with your presence.