By being aware of your own and the interviewers body language you will find the essential ingredients to projecting confidence. Here are some simple ways to ensure that you are sending the right message with your interview body language.

Dont Forget to Smile

Don't forget to smile especially if the interviewer appears to be a sociable person. While you don't want to spend the entire interview with a smile on your face, occasionally smiling helps to show enthusiasm and interest.

Tune Your Body Posture

In an interview you should sit upright but in a relaxed position leaning forward slightly towards the interviewer. This indicates that you are comfortable, confident, interested and involved. Sitting on the edge of your chair can come across as being nervous and tense. How you position your head also sends a message. Tilting your head slightly to one side comes across as friendly and open. Keeping your head straight signals confidence. Nodding your head while speaking is a good way of supporting your words or adding meaning to them.

Eye Contact

When you are doing the talking you need to hold eye contact for about 10 seconds before looking away briefly and then re-establishing eye contact. If the interviewer is talking and you want to show that you are actively listening, you need to instigate direct eye contact and maintain it. Remember to blink regularly, look away very briefly and give a small nod every now and then so you dont appear to be aggressively staring.

What to Do With Your Hands

The best place to rest your hands is in your lap or on the table if there is one. This looks confident and professional. Watch the use of your hands and ensure that you aren't constantly moving them or gesturing with them to the point of distraction. Fiddling with your hair, face or neck sends the message that you are anxious and unsure.

What to Do With Your Feet

Crossing your feet at the ankles or placing them both flat on the floor sends a message of confidence and professionalism. A lot of leg movement creates a distraction and shows nervousness. Resting one leg or ankle on top of your other knee makes you look too casual and crossing your legs high up conveys a defensive attitude.

While concentrating on your body language, an important part of any interview coaching preparation, don't forget to pay attention to the interviewer's body language too! They might be sending you subtle hints with how they act that you can use to your advantage.

Good luck!
Nikki is the founder of job interview http://www.mycvandme.co.uk/interview-coaching.html and career coaching company My CV and Me.