5 ways to make a positive impression at an interview

There’s a popular adage that goes: “First impressions make the lasting impressions.”

 

In fact, the moment you enter a room, you are judged within the first three seconds. Hence, whether you’re a seasoned veteran or right out of college, it’s important to make the right kind of impression.
 

Here are five effective ways to make a first good impression especially when you are going for an interview.

 

Dress well:
 

 

Irrelevant of which industry you belong to, it is imperative to dress the part, and look like the consummate professional. Do not go in your Friday casuals, even if it happens to be a lunch or over drinks meeting. Wear something that you’re comfortable in and  an attire that can be semi-formal. The idea is to be comfortable in your skin and for it to reflect your personality, albeit subtly. Make sure you don’t assault your would-be-boss' and other peers with some overpowering cologne or perfume.

 

 

Positive body language:

 

Right from when you meet the receptionist to the HR and the concerned head, always greet them with a smile. Always offer up a firm handshake (we all know how awful limp fish handshakes are), but don’t give the person at the receiving end a death grip. Your handshake should never be in extremes. And most importantly maintain a good eye contact whilst conversing.

 

 

 

Be organised:

 

Always have your documents neatly organised and in one place. Nothing says disorganised if you’re frantically searching for your documents when your interviewer asks for it.

 

 

 

Punctual:

 

 

 

Always be punctual and arrive 20 minutes before your designated interview. If you’re uncertain about the venue, it’s always better to do a dry run the previous evening, so you are not caught off-guard or get lost on the day of the interview.  Doing so will also let you know how much time it would take you to arrive at your interview location.

 

 

Be likable:

 

 

The key to making a good first impression is to come across as likeable. Granted, doing so at an interview can make that much harder especially when nerves get the better of you. To overcome this, do your research and relax during the interview. Don’t come across as a robot. Infuse some humour and warmth in your conversation about your work when being interviewed.