03 May 2023
Everybody knows how important first impressions are, especially in interviews. It’s widely believed that the “first impression” is actually formed within just a seven-second window when you first meet someone. That is no time at all and explains why it is so important that everything about your early interactions with interviewers is on-point.
In an interview situation, therefore, you need to act very quickly to make a fantastic first impression on your interviewers.
If you've already had an interview confirmed, here are some useful tips to bear in mind as you walk through the door:
Smile
Facial expression is vital when it comes to making a good impression. Make sure you don’t have a false, cheesy grin slapped across your face – interviewers will know it’s fake and masking nerves or arrogance.
You want to come across as warm and outgoing, and they need to spend all seven seconds thinking you are confident and professional, which is why a relaxed smile is best.
Shake their hands
The handshake is the universally accepted signal of professionalism, politeness and confidence, though it was partially replaced during the pandemic with a fist bump or an elbow bump. A good handshake is a fine art, a balance between a tight squeeze and a limp stroke. It needs to say, “I mean business”. Additionally, ensure you shake all their hands if there are multiple interviewers. You don’t want to get in one of their bad books because you only acknowledged the person in the middle, who you considered to be the “main” interviewer.
We heard a tale of someone who attended a job interview and addressed all of their attention to the person in the middle and who didn’t make it to the next round of interviews, as the person they would have been working most closely with was also on the panel and felt disrespected.
This is something that you must watch out for, so try to give each of the interview panel the appropriate level of respect. The person in the middle isn’t necessarily the most important, they may just happen to be sitting in the middle.
Introduce yourself
The chances are someone probably called you from a waiting room with a file of notes about you, so they know who you are. Even so, when you shake their hands, just say, for example, “Hi, I’m Bob”; they will then introduce themselves, and you can reply “lovely to meet you” “It’s a pleasure to meet you”, or something else in a similar vein. It breaks the tension and gives the first few seconds a conversation topic.
Speak clearly
There is little point in introducing yourself and saying wonderful things if they can’t understand you. Speak competently and confidently, ensuring what you say is relevant and appropriate to the matter. You want to paint yourself in a good light and give them as much good information as possible. This is something that can be a particular problem for interview candidates who have a specially strong regional accent. You will find that most people who have quite a broad accent will do their best to modulate it a little to make it more easily understandable.
Maintain eye contact
People perceive you as shifty or dishonest when you don’t make eye contact. To make an excellent first impression, ensure you lock eyes with the interviewer(s) as soon as you enter the room and maintain it whilst you shake hands and introduce yourself. Don’t stare, but hold the interviewer’s gaze for at least three seconds throughout the rest of the interview.
Some people struggle with making eye contact, especially those who are neurodiverse and on the autistic spectrum. If this is something that you struggle to do successfully, it is possible to try to look at a point just past the person you are talking to or even their ear or their nose.
This will give the interviewer the impression that you are making eye contact with them even though you are avoiding the uncomfortable feeling that many autistic people have with eye contact. It is also possible to flag this up before the interview so they know that a lack of eye contact doesn’t denote a lack of interest.
Look smart
Appearance is as important as body language and your answers in an interview, so you need your appearance to be fitting for the occasion. Even if the company accepts casual dress, it is good practice to dress smartly for the interview; you’d much rather be overdressed than seen as scruffy.
Making a good first impression extends to your shoes and your hair. Don't neglect if your shoes or boots need to be cleaned before going. Many older employers, in particular, will put a lot of stock in how shiny your shoes are and see it as a measure of how hard-working you are likely to be at their company.
If you are struggling to afford a suit for the job interview, many organisations loan out suits specifically for job interviews, and these are often based at places that do commercial dry-cleaning and laundry, so this is something worth exploring.
Sit down only when invited to do so
After you have shaken all of their hands and formally introduced yourself, the next step is to sit down. However, it is polite to wait until the interviewer invites you to. They will probably just say, “please sit down” or “take a seat,” but if you just walk straight in and plonk yourself in front of them, it will appear rude and hasty. If they take a while to say it or seem distracted, you can always ask if you can take a seat for the time being.
It’s a lot to remember and put into practice, but it will be over before you know it – in seven seconds, to be exact. So smile, shake hands, speak clearly and look smart to create the best first impression. The rest of the interview is up to you.
