Body Language

Body Language You need a secret weapon when you go out on a job interview and that weapon could well be body language. Body language, a combination of your gestures and your posture, actually communicates more about what you really mean than the words you say. Here are some simple ways to use your body language to project yourself positively during your interview. Use your body language to project confidence. Stand up straight, shake hands firmly and look the interviewer in the eye when you talk or they are talking. Always maintain eye-to-eye contact. Do not sit with your legs crossed. It can make you look slightly lopsided, which can create an impression of diffidence. Sit straight up in the chair, facing your interviewer directly. Crossed legs can also appear defensive. Do not cross your arms across your chest. You may feel comfortable sitting that way, but studies show that your interviewer will read this as being defensive. Use 'affiliation body language': A classic 'affiliation signal' is nodding and tilting your head to the side when the interviewer is making an important point, a tactic which should make the interviewer instantly feel warmer towards you. No matter how nervous you are, try to avoid hand-to-face gestures such as touching your nose or rubbing your eyes, which can be read as, 'you are trying to conceal something'.