First impressions mean everything in this world: from a job interview, to a chat with a stranger at the dog park. The mustard on the corner of your mouth, your unpolished shoes, your pants with no belt, a vertical stripe shirt with horizontal striped tie, or lipstick on your teeth could deter you from a job offer as fast as your minimal eye contact, shaky reasons for leaving jobs, or a cold clammy hand shake.
In this world, where getting that dream job with your dream company is becoming harder and harder, the first hour you spend in an interview is critical. Maximize this time by teaching yourself good habits.
1) Use Research to Make a Connection
Research is insurmountable in this competitive world. Don’t just learn the name of whom you will be meeting: What industry did they come from? What college did they go to? What are your shared connections? Have they written any recent articles? Are they a part of any particular groups on LinkedIn?
The more time you can get the other person talking about their job, personal life, endeavors etc. the better that person perceives you. Come on, who doesn’t like talking about themselves? Yes, you are the interviewee, but one way to stand out among the competition is to make that extra personal connection with your interviewer.
2) Prepare to Calm Your Nerves
Once you have completed your research, everything else should be cake, right? Nope! You should always have a Plan A… and always have a Plan B. There are many external factors out there that can put a wrench in your interview day, and eliminating all of these factors is impossible. However, the more you prepare ahead of time, you minimize as many of these factors as possible, and have a little bit more control of your destiny.
Always give yourself an ample amount of time to arrive. Worst case scenario: if you arrive way too early, go get a cup of coffee, clear your head and check out the landscape of the office building. The last thing you want to do is to be rushed and lose your concentration.
3) Give Your Chances a Boost through a Placement Agency
“Getting your foot in the door” is exactly the way it sounds: you may have one foot in the door, but you’re only halfway there.
At Profiles, our Recruiters will help you prepare your resume, make the introduction, give you suggestions on what to say during the interview, and set up the meeting, but it’s up to you to land the job. If you do your research and prepare ahead of time, both feet will be firmly planted in the job of your dreams.
