In a video interview focus on the head, face and eyes for important cues as to how the interviewer feels.

What to look for

• Direct eye contact. This shows confidence, trust and interest. Conversely, if your employer continually looks away or over your shoulder, this shows that he or she is preoccupied, impatient or disinterested. Consider whether you might be being too long-winded in your answer and bring your response back on point.
• A head that is slightly tilted displays interest and empathy.
• A sincere smile. When the interviewer smiles, look at the corners of the eyes for a crinkle. This indicates that the smile is genuine. If the smile is only in the mouth, you will know if the interviewer is just being polite or forcing the smile. Think about awkward family portraits that you may have been in in the past – often the reason the portraits look awkward is because the smiles are forced.

What to do

• Tilt your head slightly when the recruiter is speaking and maintain eye contact. Keep it looking natural and do not stare. It is okay to look away occasionally, for example, if you need to refer to your notes or write something down.
• Smile, smile, smile. Before you walk into the interview, put yourself in a positive frame of mind by thinking about how good you’ll feel if you get the job. That positivity will shine through in a genuine way, and you will make a great entrance.