First Impressions; It Matters!

The average person takes only a few seconds to make a first impression on someone or something. Creating a genuine, good impression must be quick because the brain is working on thousands of thoughts at the same time. In my life, I am continuously thinking about scheduling time to meet candidates, making sure my dog goes out, my next vacation to the Caribbean, when was the last time I did laundry, the list goes on and on… Interviewing, meeting a client and networking are common events where first impressions are huge. Here are eight ways to brand yourself and to make a positive first impression.

• Do your homework

Landing a phone screen or in-person meeting is only the first step of representing yourself. Do your homework on the firm! I mean it; this goes a long way! Know the purpose of why you are going and what you are hoping to get out of the meeting. Check out the employer’s website. What are they currently doing in the industry? Who is on the leadership team? Do you have any common connections with the company and/or leadership team? Sometimes companies are broadcasted on news stations and publications. Of course, you can always use Google to get any additional information you may want to explore.

• Dress the part

Where are you heading to? Dress codes can vary from geographical region, industry and company, so dress accordingly. If you are preparing for an interview, you can even ask Human Resources what the appropriate dress standards are. Coming from a Human Resources background, when candidates asked what the dress code was, I really appreciated it. It gave me a sense of respect that they cared about their first impression.

• Be on time

Isn’t it so frustrating when you make plans with your friend who is always late? Your judgement of him or her tends to be, “Oh, I am hanging out with the late friend. I will be waiting at least fifteen minutes.” Being on time for an event or meeting shows respect and trust. When you have something scheduled, aim to arrive ten to fifteen minutes early. This give you any buffer time that may arise. For example, in Washington DC, traffic can be unpredictable and finding alternative routes may just cause a headache, so you decide to just sit it out in traffic. Stick to your plan and leave early to get there on time.

• Lose the phone

If you really are interested in your first impression, ditch the phone. Have it on silent. Better yet, turn it off. Having your phone go off, whether it is on sound or vibrate, can cause interruption to not only you, but everyone surrounding you. It is also very awkward to ignore it or excuse yourself to fix the settings on your phone.

• Body Language

The way you present yourself and how your body operates during a meeting can make a positive or negative first impression. Being self-aware of your body movements is just as important as what you are saying. You could be saying everything that someone wants to hear, such as an interviewer or individual in the industry, however your body may be presenting itself in another way. Smiling (which is contagious), body posture and eye contact are three important ways to promote positive body language and confidence in yourself. Rolling your eyes, being too confident and slouching are three slipups that are commonly seen during meetings, which are not the best way to showcase yourself.

• Get the 4-1-1

Ask those tough questions you are wanting to know. You are there to get a better understanding on the company and how you can fit into the firm. Asking target-rich questions shows you are interested in learning more. Starting with a fact about either the company or industry, then following up with a related question allows the interviewer to know if you are up to date with company and industry trends.

• Show your enthusiasm

Do not confuse the employer. Are you interested? Say it. Do you want to be around people who are passionate about the industry or opportunity just like you? Showing and being transparent about what you want shows you care about your career. Having an employer guess if you are fully interested or not can cause grey area in discussion and feedback.

• Follow Up

Exchanging business cards after you meet someone allows you to follow up and thank him/her for their time. Sending a simple email or giving them a phone call goes a long way and is another way to make a positive impression. Did you talk about partnership opportunities? Set a meeting saying you want to talk further about your previous conversation. Did you just have an interview and really appreciated the core values and mission of the company? Speak your mind and let them know. Following up after a meeting is the icing on the cake of a positive conversation.

Tying this all together, let’s put this into a potential real-life situation. You are an employee at X Company and two candidates are interviewing for the Marketing Coordinator position. The first employee gives you a warm smile, strong handshake and greets you by name. The conversation is flowing very well, and the candidate understands the industry in which he is trying to get hired at. At the end of the meeting, he thanks you for your time and sends you a follow up email with a personal connection you talked about. The second candidate arrives on time, but immediately has her phone vibrate during the first few minutes of the meeting. She gets flustered which results in her confidence level decreasing and posture slumping. The second candidate is stuttering with her work projects she has completed and is very brief when answering questions. You never hear from the candidate again. Out of the two candidates, who would you want to continue a relationship with?

Setting a positive first impression goes a long way; just because the world is huge, recalling who someone is can be pretty easy, even if it takes you only a few seconds to remember.