Interview Body Language: How to Look Confident and Genuine
Body language that helps interviewers trust your answers, from walking in to sitting, eye contact, hands and voice, both in person and online.
You prepared your answers well, but once you sit down in front of three interviewers, your hand grips the pen, your eyes drift to the table and your leg bounces without you noticing. Afterwards you feel you answered well, but you do not get through. Body language does not decide everything, but it affects how much the interviewer believes your answers.
What is body language in an interview?
Body language is everything you communicate without words: posture, eye contact, facial expression, hands and voice. The goal is not to act like someone else, but to keep nerves from hiding what you want to get across.
From the moment you walk in
- Walk in at a normal pace, not rushed. Smile and greet everyone in the room
- If the interviewer offers a hand, shake it firmly. If it is a wai, return it politely in the Thai way
- Wait to be invited to sit. Put your bag beside the chair, not on the table
Posture
Sit fully on the chair, back straight but not stiff. Lean forward slightly when listening to a question, which signals interest. Avoid leaning back so far you look too relaxed, or perching on the edge as if you want to leave.
Hands
Keep your hands visible on the table or your lap. Use them naturally while speaking, such as when counting points: “There are three things.” Avoid crossing your arms, playing with a pen or touching your face, which can look nervous or closed off.
Legs
Keep your feet flat on the floor. If you know you bounce your leg when nervous, press your heels gently into the floor to stop it.
Eye contact
Look at the person asking while they speak, and maintain eye contact in stretches while you answer. You do not need to stare. With several interviewers, start by looking at the one who asked, glance at the others, then finish with the person who asked. Everyone feels included.
Facial expression
Your expression should match what you are saying. Smile when talking about work you are proud of, and look more serious when describing a problem you faced. Watch out for frowning or looking tense while hearing a hard question. Relax your forehead and nod gently as you listen to show you are paying attention, not alarmed by the question.
Voice and pace
- Speak a little slower than usual. Nerves often make you speed up without noticing
- Pause briefly before hard questions. Two or three seconds of silence looks like thinking, not ignorance
- Reduce filler words by practising and recording yourself
Good body language will not turn a bad answer into a good one, but it keeps a good answer from being overlooked.
How body language changes online
- Look at the camera when you speak: the interviewer will feel you are making eye contact. Look at the screen when listening
- Set the camera at eye level: show your head to mid-chest, with light in front of you, not behind
- Make nods and smiles a little clearer: small signals get lost on video
- Turn off notifications: glancing at your phone is very obvious on screen
See more tips in Online Video Interview Tips.
At the end of the interview
The last impression matters as much as the first. When the interviewer says you are done, gather your things without rushing, stand up, thank everyone with eye contact and a smile, and walk out at the same pace you came in. Many people relax too soon on the way out, such as sighing loudly or grabbing their phone right away, while the interviewers can still see them.
What to avoid
- Forcing gestures that are not you, such as smiling constantly. It looks insincere
- Checking your watch or phone during the interview
- Interrupting the interviewer, even if you already know the answer
Worth knowing
Body language is read differently across cultures and individuals. Some people make less eye contact out of respect or personal traits, not a lack of confidence. If you have particular limits, focus on what feels comfortable, such as a clear voice and a steady posture.
How to practise
- Record yourself answering three interview questions, then watch with the sound off. Notice your hands, legs and eyes
- Pick one thing to adjust at a time rather than fixing everything at once
- Practise with Interview Lab until your answers flow, because when you know what to say, your body relaxes on its own
- Before walking in, take a few slow, deep breaths
If nerves are the main cause, read Managing Interview Anxiety.