You’ve made it to the interview stage. Congratulations! You’ve beaten out most of the competition vying for the role. Now it’s time to be perfect. No pressure!
Obviously, when you prepare for the interview, you’ll take your company and contact research to deeper levels and will hone in on what you’ll say. Your metric-filled stories, your answers to common interview questions, and your questions to signal how you think.
But with all this preparation, there’s one part you may not have thought of that could make or break your performance.
Your non-verbal signals.
They’re things like your body language, facial expressions, speaking pace, posture, and tone of voice. They communicate far more than the words you use.
The influence of non-verbal signals
According to data, only 7% of common communication is verbal. And a full 93% is delivered through things in the non-verbal signals mentioned above.
Here is a breakdown of communication types according to social psychologists:
- 7% Verbal (words themselves)
- 38% Vocal (tone, pitch, volume)
- 55% Visual (body language, facial expressions, posture)
Consider this:
Your tone of voice alone may account for 38–45% of how a message is received, especially over the phone or in virtual meetings.
People form first impressions in seven seconds. Much of that is based on non-verbal cues like body language and facial expression. (Source: Princeton research)
Within job interviews, hiring decisions are often made in the first 5 to 15 minutes, with non-verbal cues—like confidence signs, eye contact, and handshake—playing a significant role early on. (Source: SHRM & HBR studies)
How to signal composure and confidence in an interview
Handshake and visual first impressions
- ✔Offer a firm handshake and/or make direct eye contact, with a straight posture and a warm smile. This sets a tone of confidence, preparedness, and competence.
- ✘Avoid slouching and fidgeting.
Facial engagement
- ✔Nod, smile at the right times, and show expressions of curiosity. This affirmation helps the other person feel heard and it shows you’re engaged.
- ✘Avoid blank expressions, unnatural smiling, or a wandering gaze.
Body language
- ✔Lean in slightly when someone’s speaking, keeping arms uncrossed, and speak with your hands slightly open to create psychological safety and signal openness.
- ✘Avoid appearing stiff with crossed arms and minimal hand gestures.
Use of voice
- ✔Monitor the pace and pitch of your voice to convey calm and confidence. Use deliberate pauses to calm your nerves, collect your thoughts, and meter the pace of your delivery.
- ✘Don’t speak too fast (reveals nerves) or too slow (signals disengagement).
Other tips from body language experts
Here are some additional tips to project confidence, build rapport, and stay composed allowing your body language to support your message.
Mirror to build rapport
Subtly mirror the posture or tone of your interviewer to show alignment and to build subconscious trust. This is a proven social physiology principle.
Meter your pace to signal control
Monitor how quickly you are talking. We often talk faster when we’re nervous. Slow down your pace so you can collect your thoughts and convey that you’re confidently in control.
Maintaining eye contact without overdoing It
Make steady eye contact while others are speaking. Balance eye contact with looking away briefly so it seems natural.
Watch your gestures and hand movements
Use gestures to add visual rhythm to your speaking. Use them to emphasize key points. When used periodically, they add a dynamic dimension to your words.
How to prepare for your interview performance
Record yourself
Record and review yourself in mock interviews. Watch them back with the sound off to pick up on unconscious mannerism. Watch again with the sound on so you can pick up verbal patterns.
Get feedback from coaches and/or colleagues
Ask for feedback from colleagues or coaches who can assess you more objectively. Ask them to watch your body language, pace, tone, and mannerisms. They may see patterns you are blind to.
Create a pre-interview ritual
Plan a ritual you can do right before you walk into an interview to feel empowered. Take deep breaths, loosen your body (jaw, shoulder, neck), remind yourself of your body language, and give yourself a little pep talk to set a positive intention “I’m here to connect, not perform.”
Wrap-up
You’ve done the prep. And you know what you want to say. Now it’s time to let your presence support your message.
Being confident in interviews isn’t about faking it. It’s about aligning your verbal and non-verbal cues so the interviewers see consistency and experience the best version of you.
By doing so, you will show up clear, composed, and convincing.
With that kind of delivery, your words and your message will land stronger. Interviewers will read your vibe and be left impressed. You may even impress yourself.
Good luck!