Youve handed in an amazing resume and wowed the company with your past experience and educational background. The next step is to wow them during your interview. You research the company, put on your best interviewing clothes and mentally prepare yourself for the big day. You walk in, sit down and promptly flounder and sputter your way through a miserable . By the time you leave, you know there wont be any call back.

So, what happened? What happens to most people when they go into an interview or an important meeting: you didnt pay attention to important nonverbal communication to gage how the interview was going. Body language accounts for approximately 90% of all human communication, but how many of us really take the time to pay attention to other peoples arm position, eye contact or stature? In some social situations, missing out on signs that are present in body language may not be a big deal. Sure, it may cause a bit of miscommunication and even embarrassment, but these are things that you can get over. But in a job interview situation, it can be a make or break situation.

What to look out for

When in a job interview, knowing how to read body language is key. You have to pay attention to what the interviewers body is telling you. Most people are polite and professional in work situations, so an interviewer could be verbally assuring you that things are going fine for you, when in reality you are failing miserably. While most of us can disguise our tone and adjust our wording, it is much harder to alter our body language. So pay attention to any nonverbal communication that is going on in the room to help you ace your interview.

Eye contact. An interviewer may be writing down some of your answers, so this may be a tough one. If you find your interviewer either looking down at the paper while writing, or glancing up every once in a while to make eye contact with you, you are on the right track. But if the interviewer is looking around the room, at the walls or even at his watch or a clock, you may want to adjust your tone and maybe spice up your answers a bit. And if the interviewer rolls his or her eyes? Switch gears completely.
Arm position. If your interviewer crosses his or her arms all of a sudden, take heed: something youve just said isnt sitting well.
Over all body position. When your interviewer leans his or her body forward, keep talking! They are obviously interested in what you are saying and want to hear more. If he or she is leaning back, this body language position doesnt mean that they are bored. They are just very comfortable and relaxed with what is going on in the room.
Facial expressions. How does your interview look? Slight smile or small frown? Eyebrows raised or furrowed? Each means something different and if you dont pay attention or misread, your interview can go down hill and quickly.

Dont forget what your body is saying

On the flip side, you have to always be aware of what your own body language may be saying. Even if you are raving about a past employer and how much you love working in a particular field, the way you arrange your body, facial expressions and where you are looking could be telling a completely different story.

Eye contact. Always maintain eye contact, even if you are trying to remember something. Looking down, up or to the sides can be taken as a sign of disrespect and in some cases, shadiness.
Arm position. If you are a nervous fidgeter, try to concentrate on not wring hands, twisting fingers or rubbing your arms. Nervousness may be taken as a weakness during a job interview. Also, try not to cross your arms when listening to something the interviewer is saying to you. This is almost always taken as a sign of displeasure and in some cases hostility. Trust me; it wont win you any brownie points.
Over all body position. Remember your mothers constant pleadings to sit and stand straight? Well, its time to listen to her. Slumping in a chair may be comfortable, but it will look like you arent taking the interview seriously. You could even come across as lazy. Ditto for slumping forward on your elbows.
Facial expressions. Trying too hard to look interested could result in a look on your face that borders manic. And you dont want to scare a perspective employer.

Learning how to read body language can be tricky. Everybody has their own quirks and how an interviewers day is going, their personality type and also how at ease they are at conducting an interview can affect their body language.

There are some great online and in person body language classes http://www.bodylanguageschool.com/body_language_classroom.html to help you navigate through job interviews and meeting. These classes are very reasonably priced and will help you greatly in understanding how to read body language and also what your own body language is saying.