The Importance Of Creating A Great First Impression

When interviewing for a new position it is really important that your first impression is not only positive but lasting.

You want your new potential employer to think about hiring you, recognise your ambition and understand you will be a positive addition to their team, all within the first 5 seconds of meeting them.

This first impression may determine whether or not your interview is a success, which means it is important to make sure you get it right. No Pressure!  Attic Recruitment, a recruitment agency in London has outlined exactly why a first impression is so important:

Why Is A Great First Impression So Important?

After only 5 seconds, many people have already created an impression of you because of the way you dress and your body language. This means if this visual first impression is negative you will need to work extra hard to change it.

A great first impression can leave you with a good connection with the interviewer before you even start your job. Building relationships like this can help you profile to be more memorable and if you do eventually get the job it can help you to integrate into the team much better.

Make sure to treat every member of staff you meet with respect even if it is not your interviewer. If you do get the job, you might be running into or working alongside all these people which means showing them respect the first time you meet them is key.

How To Create A Great First Impression?

Make Eye Contact

Whenever you are meeting a potential new employer it is important that you try to make eye contact. This will show your confidence and help you to engage with the employer.

As well as making eye contact you should focus on presenting positive body language so your interviewer knows you are confident, welcoming and determined. This can show an interviewer the difference between experienced and inexperienced candidates.

Try To Set Out Your Intentions

Although a visual first impression is created within seconds, the initial conversation or small talk between you and your interviewer can show your true colours.

Trying to set out your intentions doesn’t mean telling the interviewer your every want and desire in life. However, if you intend to be professional, a team player and easy to get on with then this needs to shine through.

Have some small talk pointers set out in your mind, be polite and remember to be confident. This might well be your 100th interview and definitely not your first job so make sure your experience shines through.

Choose Your Words Wisely

Understandably, interviewers will be looking to get to know you as a person and learn as much about you as they can from that one initial meeting. This means choosing what to say and how to say it is key.

Think about how you interact with the interviewer and make sure you are professional, polite and honest.