Body Language

If you are unsure of what to do with your hands, rest them, loosely clasped in your lap or on the table in front of you.

Control your hands by being aware of what you are doing with them.

Drink some water (bring a bottle with you) before you go into the interview room so your mouth isn't too parched. It's hard to speak confidently, or speak at all, when your mouth is as dry as the Atacama Desert.

► Keep your legs straight out in front of you. Do not cross them.

► Keep your arms on the table in front of you. Gently interlock fingers.

► Lean just slightly forward to look less stiff.

► Copy your interviewer's posture when in doubt.

► Legs Slightly Apart/Together.

► Lean Slightly Forward.

► Hands in Front.

► Copy Your Interviewer.

Maintain an open but professional stance and sitting position. Don't sit on the edge of your chair but instead sit up straight, leaning slightly forward and with your hands relaxed in front of you. Cross your legs at the ankles or keep both feet on the floor (crossing your legs may come across as too casual). Also be sure not to cross your arms, as that will make you appear closed and defensive.

Body language can communicate more about your personality than your answers to job interview questions. Negative body language is fairly obvious.

► Don't roll your eyes.

► Don't slouch or look bored.

► Don't sit there shaking uncontrollably.

The ability to maintain eye contact is another indicator of confidence, honesty and openness. Staring at the floor or ceiling will make you appear lacking in confidence, distracted and like you're not listening - or perhaps like you don't even care. Also be aware of too many sidelong glances, which can make you look shifty. Astute observers of body language can apparently detect liars from their eye movements (such as looking up and to the right), as well as other body language giveaways.

Eye contact can be maintained for up to 10 seconds, but it's important not to stare too intently - that will just creep your interviewer out.

Interviews are a serious business, but that's no reason not to smile. Smiling will show that you're relaxed and confident, as well as generally pleasant. No one wants to work with a dour sourpuss.

Keep in mind that there's a difference between a forced smile and a natural one, so as much as you can, try to relax and smile as naturally as possible. A natural smile involves all your facial muscles, including your eyes, while a forced one will move your mouth but leave your eyes unmoved. Either that or you've overdone it with the bot-ox.

Gestures are movements made with body parts (e.g. hands, arms, fingers, head, legs) and they may be voluntary or involuntary. Arm gestures can be interpreted in several ways.

Oculesics is a subcategory of body language, the study of eye movement, eye behavior, gaze, and eye-related nonverbal communication. As a social or behavioral science, oculesics is a form of nonverbal communication focusing on deriving meaning from eye behavior.

Body language refers to various forms of nonverbal communication, wherein a person may reveal clues as to some unspoken intention or feeling through their physical behavior. These behaviors include (but are not limited to) facial expressions, body posture, gestures, eye movement, touch and the use of space. Body language exists in both animals and humans, but this article focuses on interpretations of human body language. It is also known as kinesics.

Haptics is a subcategory of Body Language, is the study of touching and how it is used in communication. As such, handshakes, holding hands, kissing, back slapping, high fives, brushing up against someone or pats all have meaning.