Don’t Forget This Important Factor in Your Job Interview

If you are a job seeker, you know the importance of being prepared for a job interview. We all know it’s critical to review some basic interview questions, the difficult questions we tend to stumble on, and we’ve thought about what we want to ask the hiring manager about the company and the position. These help you feel confident walking into room.

However, in your careful (we hope!) interview preparation... don’t forget to consider the importance of the very first impression you will give to the hiring manager. The first impression is a key factor in your interview that many people forget. In fact, in a survey of 2,000 bosses, 33% said they know in the first 90 seconds if they want to hire someone! So, how can you make sure that you are giving a great first impression in that first 90 seconds? Here are a few factors to consider...

Your greeting. This seems like a simple thing, but if you start off on the wrong foot, it can prevent you from getting a second interview. Your greeting includes your facial expression, your handshake, your posture, your attire, and what you first say to the interviewer.

• Your facial expression. It is important to make eye contact and give a warm smile! Take a deep breath and pretend like you are meeting a new friend, and not a hiring manager.
• Your handshake. You want to find a balance between being overly strong and too weak with your handshake. A firm handshake shows that you are a strong, confident professional.
• Your posture. Keep your shoulders back and stand up straight.
• What you say. Be as natural and authentic as possible. Use their first name when greeting them and let them know you are glad to meet them. Compliment them on something that you learned about them on LinkedIn, something about the organization you admire, or mention a common interest (that again, you found on LinkedIn).

This can seem like a lot to remember in the moment, so you have to practice beforehand. Practice with a friend or family member and ask for their honest feedback. Then, practice greeting your current coworkers, fellow workout buddies, or barista. The more you practice your greeting as part of your job search routine, the more natural it will become.

Your body language. Once you have passed the initial greeting, it’s important to stay alert to your body language during your job interview. Your nonverbal communication will tell a hiring manager a lot about you, and you can inadvertently give the wrong impression. Pay attention to things such as:

• Being fidgety. Keep your arms at your sides. If you tend to play with your hair or pant leg when you are nervous, try holding a pen. Try making gestures as you talk.
• Slouching. Sit up and sit forward, especially when you are trying to make an important point in your interview. This shows you are engaged in the conversation and confident about what you are saying.
• Eye contact. While you don’t want to stare blankly and make the interviewer feel uncomfortable, don’t just look at the floor either. Making direct eye contact with the hiring manager shows conviction.

The key is to have body language that shows that you are an open and confident professional. Pay attention to your body language this week, either at work or with your family members. How do you sit in meetings? Do you make eye contact with you speak with others? Again, ask for feedback from someone you trust about your body language, and set goals for yourself. The more you work on your nonverbal communication, the more it will become part of your everyday life.

For more job search tips, download our free presentation 6 Steps to Jumpstart Your Job Search.

Hallie Crawford, MA, CPCC

Certified Career Coach and Founder, HallieCrawford.com Career Coaching

Career Direction, Job Search, Resume, Work Performance

404-228-6434

[email protected]

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