The Pongo Blog
First Impressions Mean Everything in Your Job Search
April 14, 2010 (4:30PM) by Brianna Raymond, CPRW
You have at least five places to make a memorable first impression during your job search. That’s good, because if you blow the first impression, you can add that potential job to your Not Gonna Happen list. In no particular order, those opportunities are:
- Career Fairs
- Networking Events
- Face-to-Face Interviews
- Cover Letters
- Phone Interviews
Here's a list of what you can do to avoid leaving a bad first impression and get one step closer to securing the job:
Career Fairs, Networking Events, and Interviews
- Dress appropriately. Wear a suit unless the company explicitly tells you to dress casually.
- Smile, smile, smile!
- Stand up and give a firm handshake to everyone you meet.
- Focus positively on what you have to offer, but also listen to the other person (e.g., make it a conversation, not a one-way pitch).
- Be respectful and kind to every person you meet when you arrive for an interview.
- Be prepared with a mental list of questions to find out more about the job opportunities and companies.
- Pretend your cell phone doesn't exist when you're in the presence of professionals who could impact your career, unless you're using it to save contact information or email your resume on the spot.
- Strive to smell neutral, from your breath to your deodorant. Avoid cologne or perfume!
Cover Letters
- Write well! Eliminate spelling and grammatical errors.
- Demonstrate your knowledge of the company along with your qualifications for the job. Avoid the "me-me-me, I-I-I" syndrome.
- Avoid wishy-washy statements (I believe, I think, etc). Exude confidence.
- Focus on the positive; negative statements are an invitation for a negative first impression.
- Thank the reader for their time.
Phone Interviews
- Stay focused and speak clearly.
- Avoid taking the call in busy places with a lot of background noise.
- Don't interrupt when the other person is talking!
- Be prepared for the call so you don't stumble through your answers.
- Use a landline phone if possible to avoid any awkward cell phone delays and dropped calls.
- Thank the caller and ask what the next step in the process is.
- Take notes that you can refer to when you meet the interviewer in person.
In a nutshell: Act professional, confident, and respectful.
Did I miss anything? Let me know in a comment!
Posted by: Rhonda C. | April 15, 2010 at 9:29 PM | Quote This Comment
These were great points especially the one about the phone interview.
Posted by: Teneisha | April 18, 2010 at 11:42 PM | Quote This Comment
These may SEEM like obvious common-sense tips but until they're spelled out like this...so many get missed. Excellent advice! Take nothing for granted.
Posted by: Gerald K. | April 20, 2010 at 4:42 PM | Quote This Comment
Thanks everyone! I'm glad the advice was well-received!
Posted by: Brianna | April 21, 2010 at 11:29 AM | Quote This Comment
This reminds me to think: Everyone knows everyone - so don't underestimate anyone - including oneself!
On the interviewer side once, as a committee we checked out "gut feelings" with the impression the secretary who welcomed the candidates in the office what her impression was of a few candidates. Although this wasn't a measure for the final outcome, it did measure into discussion which can add to perspective and ultimately effect scores used to measure each candidate.
Posted by: Edward Knopping | April 26, 2010 at 1:07 PM | Quote This Comment
Thanks a lot, there are helpful steps, that's what we need to read "currently" for such subjects.
Posted by: Raba'a | April 27, 2010 at 8:03 AM | Quote This Comment
I recently showed up in person at an appointment that was supposed to be a phone interview.
The individual I meet with was surprised and did meet to talk - her original email to me regarding the call was not clear. I'd made a asumption that it was in her office.
I did send a thank you message expressing an apology and expressed interest in following up.
Do you think I ruined my chances with this job?
- Alex
Posted by: Alex | March 16, 2011 at 7:47 AM | Quote This Comment