It is famously said that “The first impression is the last impression” in all matters relating to interaction and presenting yourself for appraisal, particularly when seeking a job.
Particularly while seeking employment – in line with the saying “Well begun is half done”, it is imperative that you are able to make an initial impact on the interviewer whether it is a single interviewer or a board or panel. In effect, with a pleasant start, you are starting off at a level higher than the rest of the competition; failing or emerging victorious in your job interview may depend on it.
Surprisingly, there is another saying which applies, quite aptly to interviews, says “All‘s well that ends well”; it must be remembered that the first impression needs to be sustained, as far as feasible, throughout the interview. And, if you can extend the feel-good factor to the end, your employment may be more or less guaranteed. There is the distinct possibility of a rough riding interview turning into a career, especially if the beginning and ending of the interview are smooth.
Lets assume that when you present your resume, it has less than a minute to please the authority perusing it; hence:
- The resume should not be too long and
- The first section of your resume should have the most important details of your resume.
There are other tips which will help you in keeping the interviewers in a favorable frame of mind. Some of these may be summarized as follows:
- You should be smartly dressed in clothes matching the occasion; your grooming should be perfect according to your profile, (examples: top button should not be unfastened, tie should be in place, shoes polished suitably, hair combed and cut, clothes ironed neatly and clean)
- The initial handshake should be firm, yet gentle
- There should be a smile on your face and you should be making regular eye-contact with the interviewer(s)
- Do not be too tense; display your soft skills with aplomb
- Whether sitting or standing, your posture should be upright, though relaxed
- Your speech should be clear, unhurried and convincing
- Do not try to hide facts or bluff your way through, it may harm your interest now or later when you are in employment
- If you do not know the answer to any question, admit it- nobody is expected to know everything
Things to avoid:
- Avoid a slouching posture
- Avoid arguing or trying to prove a point
- Avoid trying to bluff your way
- Avoid complaining about issues which can be avoided
- Do not criticize your previous employers; if any discussion comes up, do not be aggressive and try to keep it a low-key affair
- Stand up when a standing person shakes your hand
- Do not mumble or speak too loudly or fast
- Appear as you normally are without any pretenses or airs
– The Recruit Founders