how to show confidence at a job interview

After the long, exhausting journey of searching for and applying to new jobs you’ve just been rewarded with a gold ticket, an interview.

But after a brief moment of celebration the panic sets in: Your heart is already pounding, your palms are beginning to sweat, and you’re wondering: Are hiring managers like sharks—can they smell fear? If the thought of sitting across from a hiring manager makes your stomach turn, you’re not alone. But don’t let your nerves get the best of you! Try one these strategies that will help you feel calm, cool, and collected—or at least make you appear that way.

How to Show Confidence in Job Interviews:

1. Eye contact

Practice keeping good eye contact while listening, and equally important- while speaking! (Most people find this harder to do when speaking).

There’s nothing more important than eye contact when it comes to showing confidence, and it’s extremely noticeable if you’re staring down or to the side when you talk.

2. Body positioning

Once you’ve made a habit of maintaining eye contact, it’s time to think about your body positions.

You want to stand and sit in open positions – arms by your sides, not crossed. Make your body take up a lot of space, rather than making yourself smaller. This is how to seem confident.

3. Don’t fidget

Be still, and make controlled, calculated movements. Don’t hold a pen or paper and fidget constantly. Be careful not to tap your hands or feet either.

It’s okay to be animated and talk with your hands. It’s probably even a good thing in most interviews to show enthusiasm. But don’t move your hands around when you should be listening! (More on listening coming up…)

4. Smile and try to enjoy the process

Confident people smile. Nervous people grimace or wrinkle their face up and look super serious or distracted.

So along with making eye contact like we discussed earlier… smile and try to hold relaxed, calm facial expressions.

It’s okay to show you’re thinking about an interview answer , or deciding what to say, but you shouldn’t constantly look like you’re strained and having a miserable time.