First impression is the last impression, they say.
True enough!
Whether you meet someone personally or have an official meeting with an interviewer, your first impression is very important.
Here are a few expert-proven tips that can help you win the first 10 seconds in an interview and set a good impression on your Interviewer.
So, if you are wondering how to impress the Interviewer, do these things:
Maintain an Eye Contact
When interviewers first extend their hand for a handshake with you, they want to gauge the fact that you are confident or not.
So great and confident eye contact is a must for interviews.
Look directly into their eyes as it shows your confidence level and produces a trust-building chemical known as “Oxytocin”.
Maintaining an eye-contact help people focus on the conversation and read the facial expressions.
This, in turn, improves the understanding level. Also, eye contact helps the candidate focus and concentrate on the discussion.
It is believed that the moment you break eye contact, your mind will begin to wander somewhere else, breaking the conversation flow.
Looking directly into people’s eyes signifies that you are interested in the conversation. Hence eye contact is the first thing to do to impress the Interviewer.
Do Not Get Tensed and Be in a Good Mood
The second most important thing to do is to be happy. It shows off if you have worries, tensions, or are in a bad mood.
If the Interviewer picks up your bad mood, you will have a difficult time.
The best thing to do is to take a few deep breaths before facing the interview panel and think positively throughout the interview.
To maintain high confidence and level and to speak sensibly and spontaneously, you should prepare answers to specific questions beforehand.
Like this.
Mirror the Actions of the Interviewer
Like other people you meet in your day-to-day lives, your Interviewer also reads your facial expressions throughout your conversation with him.
You can consider mirroring their actions.
This will help you set a rapport with him.
You should try to adjust your posture, voice pitch, gestures, etc., according to the pace and volume level of the Interviewer.
Dressed up Professionally
Your visual appearance strikes even when you do not speak a word.
You must know how to dress professionally and look presentable during the interview.
Doing a little bit of research before going to the discussion is good. Besides the company’s background, you should know the company’s culture and then dress accordingly.
So, find out whether they have a casual approach to dressing or things are formal there.
Also, take care of things like your dress should be in sync with the job position you have applied for. For instance, if you are applying for a managerial position, you should dress formally.
In contrast, if you have applied for a gym instructor or a sports teacher, you can present a casual look.
Everything matters apart from your dress, hair, and accessories you put on. So, you should be careful. Make sure you are not putting on perfume or cologne because your Interviewer may be allergic to the same.
Be Prepared
There will be specific obvious questions in the interview like this.
If you want to make a good impression on the Interviewer from the first question, you must prepare the answers to the most commonly asked questions beforehand.
You should present your answers in a conversation mode and present positive language.
Be Punctual and Arrive On Time
You should plan and reach the Interviewer on time. You should be 5-10 minutes before the schedule.
Being punctual gives an impression that you are well-prepared and respect his time.
Take Care of Your Body Language
Your Body language can say a thousand words without yours speaking anything.
Body language is one of the most powerful communication tools you can use.
The way you walk, shake hands and a lot more, your body posture talks more than you think.
So, if you do not know how to impress the Interviewer in 10 sec, have good body language. So, avoid slouching, making a weak handshake or making eye contact so that your Interviewer can pick up your positive energy and get impressed.
Avoid showing nervous signs like biting your nails or blinking your eyes repeatedly.
You may use hand gestures but should be well aware of when to use them.
You can emphasize your point with the help of hand gestures, but body language like clenching your fists or waving your rams should be avoided.
Do not show any signs that can make the impression of your being over-confident or nervous.
Put Forth a Friendly Demeanor
Irrespective of the job role you are applying for, you need to present a friendly demeanour to make a good impression on the hiring manager.
Make sure you smile, have a conversational tone, feel comfortable, and inject some humour into the interview, but be careful.
Significance of Making a Good impression in the First 10 Seconds
You need to remember the fact that you only have 20 seconds to 30 seconds right at the start of the interview to make or break your impression.
In the first 10 seconds, how you walk into the room, greet the interviewers sitting in the room, shake hands, and your body language decides whether you will be able to set a positive impression.
You need to remember that there is no CTRL+Z, and you cannot undo the impression you have already made through your dress, body language, and tone of voice.
The first 10 seconds are very important as they set the direction and the style of the rest of the conversation.
How Should You Prepare For Making a Good Impression On Interviewer?
You will lag behind if you do not know how to impress the Interviewer in the first 10 seconds.
So, it is better to be safe than sorry. You can be prepared to create a good impression.
Here’s how you can:
Focus on Energizing Yourself
If you tend to feel stressed during interviews, you should be well-prepared the day before.
You can indulge in some meditation, deep breathing exercises or jogging or anything else that can help your body feel energized and relieved.
Indulging in exercising or light activities can help you feel confident.
Get Plenty of Sleep
Most job seekers begin to feel nervous and cannot be confident.
If this happens to you, you should consider getting enough sleep the night before.
You need at least 8 hours of sound sleep the day before.
Resist sticking to your TVs or phone careen and practice deep breathing exercises.
Stay Well Hydrated and Nourished
What you eat and whether you are well-hydrated or not play a significant role in how you perform.
Having green veggies, fresh fruits and drinking plenty of water is advisable.
Practice is the Key
The first 10 seconds of the job interview are very important, and if you do not know how to nail a job interview in the first 10 seconds, you should practice well beforehand.
Questions are asked in every interview, like why should we hire you, your most significant weaknesses, tell about yourself etc.
You need to prepare these questions very well.
Bottom Line
Despite being a deserving candidate, many people fail to make a great impression in an interview and cannot fetch their desired job.
If this happens to you, again and again, you need not worry. Use the above valuable tips to fare better and be a winner.
