Job interviews can be a nerve-racking experience for even the most experienced of job seekers, but are particularly horrific for those new to the job market. If you are out of work and looking for employment, perfecting your interview techniques is a must! It is key that you make a stellar first impression at a job interview, and we have some tips that can help you to do just that!
How to make a great first impression at a job interview
Dress to Impress
If you want to get the job, you have to look the part. While that doesn’t mean you have to wear a suit, it does mean that you should wear clean, well kept attire that is suitable for your field of work. For office work you might want to wear a suit, but if you’re applying for a job on a building site then clean, practical clothes might be best.
For formal interviews, you should be sure that your shoes are clean, your pants are ironed, and your tie/shirt is clean and professional. Both men and women should be sure that their nails are clean and tidy, and that their hair is neat.
One exception to the above advice is when applying for work in the arts; don’t be afraid to show your true colors to make an original, yet positive, impression upon your prospective employers.
Don’t be scared, be prepared
Being prepared for your job interview is not just about thinking about how you will answer those questions that are likely to come up. It’s about knowing all the important facts about the business that you intend to work for. Find out about their ethics, their origins, and what it is they stand for. This way you can display your initiative, make sure they are the kind of company you would want to work for, and be well informed in the event that they actually offer you a position within the company.
Smile
A cheerful demeanour and a smile can go much further than you would ever imagine at a job interview. A smile can help create a positive first impression in kinds of situations; plus, smiling helps to lower your stress levels, gives the impression of confidence, and tricks your brain into thinking that you are cool, collected and calm. All good things if you want to make a great first impression on your interviewer. Don’t forget, though, that smiling consistently can appear false or manipulative (at worst – a little psychotic). Whatever you do, however, don’t smile when your (possible) future employer tells you their dog died.
Stay positive
This is a great piece of advice in general, but works very well for making a great first impression at a job interview. Be positive about what you have to offer to your employer, even if it seems like you are poorly matched to the job. Doubting yourself from the get go is a sure route to failure, and will only convince your employer that you are wrong for the job.
One really important aspect of staying positive is to avoid speaking poorly of your last employers. This is important for two main reasons. Firstly, it’s only your word that the interviewer will have, and whether or not your last boss was indeed a psychopath, your interviewer may not believe you. Secondly, it does not represent the best side of your personality when you share information about previous employers with possible competitors.
Also, if you don’t get the job, stay positive. One unsuccessful interview doesn’t mean you’ll never get another job; in fact, you might get a better one. Remember the mantra: “Everything is always working out for me!” and trust that what is meant for you will be.
Keep all this is mind and you should be fine; good luck with your next job interview!