The first minutes of a job interview are very important and can even determine your chances of getting a job. First impressions are crucial and will last long. Some studies show that most of the hiring managers decide within the first 30 seconds if the applicant would get hired. Every job applicant should know some powerful strategies how to make a memorable impact in the first minutes of an interview.
Here are some valuable tips on making lasting positive impact:
- Practice. Practice before an interview may help you feel more confident and prepared. Review the interview questions that employers most frequently ask and think about best possible answers. It might be helpful in reducing your anxiety before the interview and will help you to boost your confidence.
- It’s obvious that first impressions count! You can create warmer environment and more favourable attitude by smiling and having firm handshake. Proper eye contact and posture are also vital. Stand and sit up straight, and walk confidently into a room.
- Dress for success. Obviously, the dress code depends on the type of job you’re applying for, but being professionally dressed can help you get more positive first impression. It is also recommended to add some colour to your outfit, like a cute scarf, to make yourself stand out from gray and black crowd.
- Be enthusiastic! You’ve been invited for the interview because they believe you have necessary skills and qualifications to do the job. However, it’s totally up to you to assure the interviewer that you can do the job better that anyone else. Try to impress with your flexibility, passion for the job and willingness to take up responsibility at work. There’s no bigger turnoff when an interviewee is negative about a past employer, working conditions or just wants something to pay the bills.
- Be concise. It’s important for your interviewer not to lose focus during the interview. Career specialists recommend thinking in bullet points for every answer and give concise and well-structured responses.
- Do decent research about the company. First of all, you should know what is the skill set the company is looking for in the candidate. You can also find out information on the employer’s career page to get an idea of the type of employees their desire.The company’s culture, mission and values are vital to know. Job seekers should be able to confidently say they’re good fit for the company’s culture during any job interview. In fact, a Millennial Branding study says 43 percent of HR professionals believe cultural fit is the most important quality job seekers can have during the hiring process.
- Follow up with a memorable email. There maybe dozens of candidates who apply for jobs and attend interviews. A follow-up email would be a nice reminder of who you are. Not following up is one of the biggest pet peeves of a hiring manager, and you’ll be surprised how much it can help with scoring the job.