Create A First Impression That Will Win Interviews Before They Even Start
It might seem unfortunate to some that appearance matters a lot in making an opinion and that first impressions are made in a matter of minutes with a strong influence over how well someone is received. However, being armed with that knowledge means you can use it to your advantage. Giving a good interview is important, but front-loading it with the best first impression you can is going to be even more useful in winning the job you want.
Go the extra mile on your resume
You can assume that businesses receive resumes all the time. Even those that don’t have open applications are going to get forward-thinking individuals sending their details anyway. Having a resume that dictates your skills isn’t enough. Make it stand out even more. In the composition, trying using a little dose industry jargon here and there if you truly understand it and tailor the skills and experience to be relevant for the interview position. Making it more convenient is another impressive step to take, too. You can put it up on your website and offer a simple link to it, instead of printing it out. You can go even further and hand out a business card with a QR code, which you can get from companies like www.helloprint.co.uk, that leads to your resume. Nothing makes you look more dedicated to your career and professional appearance.
Dress for the job
This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. They say dress for the job you want. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who interpret that to mean ‘wear a suit to every interview you have’. A fitted suit can be the right choice for some interviews, but not for all. For instance, if you’re applying for a job that requires manual work and someone who is ready to take on some strain, then you want to show that. You can pair a smart casual look with the right choices that make you look ready, such as a good pair of Dickies boots. Remember that context matters more than your own tastes regarding professionalism.
Master your body
Unfortunately, a lot of people go into an interview without thinking about body language at all. If they’re nervous, they will unconsciously let their body show it. So, take control of your body. Start the day by stretching and even doing a little exercise. Work out that tension and practice good posture and confident body language. Have a conversation with a housemate, a family member or even in the mirror. Get used to staying straight up and minding your own personal space without being too overbearing. Remember the importance of eye-contact as well. You want to meet their eyes, but that doesn’t mean staring at their eyes for the whole interview. Every 7 or so seconds, cast a glance elsewhere, perhaps at whatever documents they have in front of them.
Put your best foot forward, show your confidence, as well as your capabilities in the first few moments of the interview. It will leave an impression that’s going to color the rest of the meeting. Dazzle them with your image before you baffle them with your brilliance.
