The first impression that you leave on someone matters a lot in how they perceive you as an individual. This is important to know, especially during job interviews, where you want to leave a lasting impression on recruiters. Some people even say that recruiters know within the first 30 seconds of an interview whether they want to hire you or not.
So, it is important to make the best first impression that you can during a job interview. How do you do that? We present some effective tips for this below.
- Create a professional-looking resume
The resume is the first means of contact between you and a potential employer. It is your first chance to leave a good impression and improve your chances of getting hired. A professional-looking resume that has been tailored for the job you are applying to can make a world of difference. Therefore, you must create a well-designed, professional resume that makes you stand out from all the competition.
However, designing and organizing information in resumes from scratch can be a difficult and tiresome task. Luckily though, tools like PosterMyWall help you in creating professional resumes without having to do everything from scratch.
PosterMyWall features a great variety of resume templates that you can choose from and then customize as per your requirements. The design process is quite simple and it only takes a few easy steps from getting started to creating a professional resume.
- Dress properly and professionally
When you go for an interview, the first thing that an interview will observe is your dressing. What you wear and how you wear it is extremely important during a job interview. This is because your dressing shows how much effort you are willing to put in to get the job at hand.
Here are some tips on how you can dress properly for a job interview:
- Dress formally and make sure that you adhere to any dress code that was mentioned in the interview invite. If you are unsure or there is no dress code, a formal suit or blouse is usually the safest bet.
- Wear formal shoes or sandals that are clean and fit the rest of your dressing.
- Make sure that you set your hair properly and take a breath mint. This helps you leave an impression of being neat and tidy.
Note that the interviewer is not just looking for how fit you are for the job role, but how well you will represent the company too. Be presentable and dress professionally to make sure you leave a lasting impression.
- Offer a firm handshake
Handshakes are a great way to show the interviewer how confident you are. It is also the first interaction that you have directly with the interviewer. Therefore, a firm handshake can help you establish a good start to the interview.
Here are some tips for handshakes that will come in handy during your next interview:
- Keep a firm grip that is not too tight nor too limp.
- Extend your hand to greet everyone you interact with during your interview.
- If you are sitting down, be sure to stand up to greet anyone that enters the room and comes to chat with you.
- Arrive on time, not too late nor too early
Punctuality is something that is taken very seriously during interviews. Recruiters normally have a packed schedule and they are likely to be interviewing someone before and after you.
Being late to your job interview implies that you either have a non-serious attitude or are inattentive to details. On the other hand, showing up too early makes you seem overly eager. Keeping this in mind, you should arrive for your interview on time or at most 15 minutes before your interview.
In case of any unexpected delays or circumstances, call in early to either reschedule or inform them of any delays. In most cases, the recruiters will understand and consider your request. It will also leave a positive impression because it will show that you are a good communicator and can manage unforeseen circumstances well.
Final thoughts
The tips that we have shared here may not win you the job alone but they will definitely help you inch a little closer to winning it. Make sure that you start your next job application on the right foot by following these tips. When you start on a good note, you can face tough questions with confidence without worrying about how the interviewer will perceive you. Because after all, the first impression matters the most.
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