The First Impression = The Best Impression

Guest blog spot by Outside-In® Team Member Herb Broadwater

There are many chances and instances of the first impression when it comes to your job search. While each and every one of them are equally important to set yourself apart from the rest, they can also very difficult to recover from if you do not put your best foot forward. We’ve compiled a few quick tips for each kind of first impression to help your success during your next career move.

If the first impression is a resume:

– Spell check! Typos are one of the biggest flaws that aggravate recruiters. Make sure that your resume is free of errors and reflects your professionalism.

– Organize and format your resume so it’s visually appealing and so your skills and experience can be easily read and understood.

– Do not use “I.” When writing your resume, remember that you are marketing your skill set as a product. You also want to convey that you are a team player, so make sure you avoid all instances of referring to yourself in the first person.

If the first impression is a phone call:

– Mind your manners! Be courteous and use complete sentences to articulate your experience while remaining enthusiastic about the opportunity.

– Perfect your 30 second sales pitch. Before you get on the call, have a strategy of what you want to say and what you want to get out of the phone call.

– Stay focused on the phone call and give the interviewer your undivided attention. It’s hard to take a candidate seriously when they are washing dishes or punching in numbers on a microwave in the background.

If the first impression is face to face:

– Dress appropriately for the interview and groom yourself properly. Do not smoke before the interview or chew gum – be professional!

– Make direct eye contact. During your meeting, remain focused and make eye contact with the other person to show that you are paying attention and that you are truly listening to what they are saying.

– Show up in a respectful time frame. Be mindful of the other person’s time – do not be late for a scheduled meeting and try not to show up more than 15 minutes early.

Whichever situation your first impression may be, keep these tips in mind when presenting yourself as a potential candidate. If you remain professional while just being yourself, you’ll do great!

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