7 Tips to Make a Great First Impression in an Interview

So you finally landed that much-coveted job interview with your dream company. Congratulations! You are one step closer to shaping the next phase of your career.

If this is not your first job application, then you know that having a stellar resumé is not enough to nail that role. How you present yourself, communicate your strengths, and interact with the interviewer increases your chances of being hired. It also allows the hirer to check if you fit their company culture – an aspect you don't always read off paper. 

Thankfully, there are tested and proven ways to establish yourself as the perfect candidate for the job during this critical Q&A stage. Find out how to make a great first impression in an interview.

Related article: Reply to an Interview Invitation With These Tips

What Does a First Impression Mean Exactly?

A Princeton University paper shows that an individual only needs seven seconds to form a judgment about other people, otherwise known as first impressions. When a person sees you for the first time, they may develop a hasty conclusion about your personality and trustworthiness based on your clothes, hairstyle, voice, mannerisms, or other aspects.  

The same rule applies, naturally, to a job interview setting. When you and the interviewer meet for the first time, you size each other up and create an impression of each other. As researchers Janine Willis and Alexander Todorov proved, these instant observations are not inherently wrong – just human nature. Hence, establishing the right impact during your brief dialogue with the interviewer is necessary.

The more positive the first impression you give, the likelier you'll hear about a job offer after the interview. 

Related article: Why Should We Hire You? This is How You Answer With Confidence

Tips to Make a Great First Impression

Job interviews are about presenting your best and most authentic self. Specifically, you should be able to highlight the value you're offering to the company for which you're applying. Putting your best foot forward is terrific but vague advice. Here are practical tips to try for a successful interview.

Do your research before the interview.

Do the legwork. Read up on the company – particularly its history, milestones, recent achievements, and, if publicly available, its plans. Understand its products and services, demographic, and even culture. This basic information will help you skip canned answers and tailor-fit your responses to the employer's needs. Knowing how the company works will also help you better explain how you can fit into its system.

It can also help you raise talking points about what you admire about the company, too.

Arrive on time.

Punctuality displays good manners – and demonstrates your professionalism. Being prompt is all right, but give yourself an allowance of at least 15 to 20 minutes. You should account for scenarios that could cause you to be tardy, such as heavy traffic, challenging parking, undesirable weather conditions, and slow elevator traffic. If you happen to reach the rendezvous early, use the extra time to freshen up or grab a drink to help you relax before the interview.

In a remote setting, check your connection, speakers, and microphone. Turn off distraction notifications or software updates ahead of time. Get potential technical difficulties out of the way before you even turn on your camera.

Dress for the occasion.

Dressing to impress in a job interview means wearing suitable corporate attire. In this age where many companies prefer a more relaxed ambience, you don't exactly need to wear a business suit. However, you can err on caution with a collared shirt, slacks (or a knee-length skirt for women), and covered shoes. 

Match the company culture, but play it up a notch. The boss may be wearing a hoodie and jeans, but you're not in the same boat (yet!). Be presentable by ensuring your clothes are clean and pressed. Avoid anything too distracting; the focus is on your skills, not your dress sense – unless the latter is a requirement. Brush your teeth, comb your hair, trim your nails. Exercising proper grooming and good hygiene should be a given.

Smile.

Chances are, your interviewer may be equally as nervous as you are. No matter the occasion, a smile works wonders to ease tension and establish a sense of warmth toward another person. It also lightens the mood and helps you project yourself as friendly and approachable.

Of course, if you're talking about a serious matter, you should tone down the grin.

Make eye contact.

Never discount body language during the interview. Eye contact is a simple but powerful way to evoke sincerity and conviction. It shows the interviewer you believe in what you’re saying and that you’re paying attention to them. 

Make sure not to make too much eye contact. Don't stare or purposely intimidate. You will come on too strong or aggressive. 

Have a firm handshake.

The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology reveals that a firm handshake helps make a good first impression for both males and females. It conveys strength and vigour as well as being open to experience. A limp handshake, on the other hand, demonstrates shyness and insecurity.

Practise shaking hands with a friend or family member and check how they find it. 

Ask engaging questions.

An interview is a two-way street. Treat it as a conversation instead of an examination (even though it is). Asking questions (particularly about details you learned during your preliminary research) exhibits curiosity, attentiveness, and interest. 

Inquire about the work environment. Ask about flexibility, how the company adjusted during the pandemic, and the hirer's expectations. Communicate your concerns and the aspects you look forward to in a job, such as work-life balance.  

Related article: 7 Common Interview Questions And How Best to Answer Them

What If You Fail to Make a Great First Impression?

You can arrive on time, wear the proper clothing, and share fascinating insights but still give the wrong first impression. There could be a variety of reasons for this. After all, you can't control the interviewer's reaction either. However, you must not panic or feel discouraged instantly. You can still recover.

Back-track where things went wrong.

There’s no use beating yourself up if you couldn't charm your interviewer. The sooner you accept the situation and pinpoint where you specifically stumbled, the sooner you can develop a strategy to redeem yourself.

Say sorry.

You may have accidentally said or done something wrong. In any case, acknowledge it openly with the interviewer and apologise. The interviewer will appreciate your honesty and humility.

Stay on track.

Once on the road to recovery, cautiously maintain that momentum and keep repeating the same approach to re-establish that good impression.

Things to Bring to an Interview

Apart from preparing mentally, emotionally, and physically for a job interview, you’ll also need to bring several items.

Copies of your resume

We may live in the digital age, but there’s something professional about having printed documents on hand. Print out a few copies of your curriculum vitae as other recruitment personnel may want to view these. It will also be helpful for you to have a physical reference while discussing your job qualifications and strengths with the interviewer.

A list of talking points and questions

Have a small notebook or notepad with your list of talking points and questions for easy reference. Your interviewer will appreciate just how prepared you are.

A work-appropriate bag.

You wouldn't want your things to be in a jumbled mess – carrying a bunch of stuff in your hands is also not a good look. Make sure to bring a work-appropriate bag, such as a leather tote or messenger bag. It can safely stash your things and help you quickly access your pen, CV, and notepad when you need them.

What About Online Interviews?

With the rising prevalence of remote and hybrid work setups, more and more companies are turning online to conduct interviews. While most of the tips above apply to video calls, here are tips to help you navigate online interviews.

Choose a well-lit and quiet space.

Find an area in your house with minimal distractions and ample lighting so the interviewer can see and hear you well, whether or not you're using headphones. It may be tempting to use a background filter, but it will be more professional to show your location as it is. Make your background isn’t distracting, too, with unnecessary clutter or controversial decor.

Do a test beforehand.

Just as with any device, expect potential hiccups and prevent these by doing a trial before the call. You may want to ask a friend to call you so you can check how you look and sound before the interview. Make sure your laptop is also fully charged or plugged in. You might also want a backup device, a smartphone or a tablet, in case of tech issues.

Double-check the time zone.

Double-check what time zone your interviewer is in and what’s indicated in the video call invitation so you don’t end up showing up at the wrong time.

Related article: Here Are 8 Kinds of Job Interviews You Have To Be Ready For

With practice and ample preparation, you can confidently take on that job interview to make a great first impression as you #SEEKBetter career opportunities. Best of luck! 

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