First Impressions Count When Being Interviewed: How To Make Yours Great
Richard Bunkham FCIPD
HR Consultant - Global Talent Acquisition Specialist & Career Coach - helping you find your dream job and companies find the best talent
One thing that you’re probably always hearing is just how important first impressions are. It doesn’t matter who you are, what job you currently have, or anything like this, what’s most important is how you present yourself. You need to show the interviewer that you are exactly what they are looking for without coming across as arrogant and creating a fantastic first impression that will last. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the ways that you can ensure that the first impression you leave is fantastic. Keep reading if you would like to find out more.
Dress Smart
The first thing that we’re going to look at is dressing smart. You wouldn’t turn up to an interview in sweats and a t-shirt, so why do some people seem to turn up in other less than professional clothing? You need to make sure that you look smart and ready to do business, rather than like you just rolled out of bed and couldn’t be bothered to make an effort. This should include everything from your clothes to anything else that is associated with your appearance. Make the smart choice and go for something that shows how serious you are about landing the position you are interviewing for.
If you aren’t going to dress smart, at least dress appropriate for the job you are hoping to get. It’s not quite the same, but it will leave a better first impression than turning up looking like you’ve been out all night.
Come Prepared
The other thing that you’re going to need to do is come prepared. You may not know exactly what they are going to ask you, but you can get a pretty good idea. Think about how you want to answer certain questions, but don’t come up with exact responses because you don’t want the answers to sound rehearsed. Think about what you want to say, and be prepared to explain yourself without sounding wooden or robotic.
If you think that you’re going to need any documentation or papers, make sure you take them with you. The interviewer may want to see them, so having them on hand will present you as an organized and well-managed individual.
Be On Time
Finally, you don’t want to be late. Being on time is essential as if you come in to the interview late, you are already giving a bad impression. We know that sometimes it’s beyond your control, but you’ve got to do everything in your power to be on time to your interview. If you’re late, everyone is going to have to wait for you to show up, souring their mood before they even get to ask you a single thing! This hinders your ability to get the job.
We hope that you have found this article helpful and now have a better idea as to how you can make a fantastic first impression at your next interview. They are so important, to the point that you’ve got to do everything in your power to make it a good one! Good luck.
Original article
https://www.totalcareersolutions.com/first-impressions-count-when-being-interviewed-how-to-make-yours-great/