Make your first impression count

When you are searching for a new job or making a career change, it is very important to make your first impression on employers count. Your first interaction with a potential employer sets the expectation for all future conversations and interviews. A positive first experience will many times encourage an employer to call you back for a second interview or even offer you a job on the spot, while a negative first impression may cause the employer to pass you over to hire another applicant.

First impressions come in many different forms. An employer’s first impression of you may come from the appearance of your resume or employment application. If your resume has spelling or grammar mistakes in it the employer is likely to ignore your resume. A neatly written application will leave a better impression than one covered with eraser marks or with a chocolate stain on it. Your first impression may come in person at a career fair or when you walk in to get an employment application. Someone dressed in neat clothes with their hair combed makes a better first impression than a person wearing dirty jeans or a shirt covered with stains from lunch. Many first impressions come from an email message or telephone call. When you speak to an employer; slow down, speak clearly, and avoid using slang to make the best impression.

How to make a good first impression on potential employers

1. Dress professionally – if you will be meeting a potential employer in person, make sure you are dressed appropriately. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to wear a suit and tie or your Sunday best, but you should dress appropriately for the job you are applying for.
2. Speak Clearly – regardless of whether you will be meeting the employer in person or talking to them on the phone, you should speak slowly and clearly. Think about what you are going to say, answer questions directly, and pay close attention to the conversation.
3. Check your spelling – Your resume is often times the first introduction and employer has to you. Make sure that there are no spelling or grammar errors in your resume before you send it to any employers.
4. Neatness counts – When you complete employment applications try to be neat and precise. Scribbles and erasures make your application looked rushed and unprofessional. Take your time, write clearly, and answer all the questions completely.
5. Return calls and answer emails – Many companies today start their hiring process with an email questionnaire or telephone interview. In either case if a company contacts you and leaves a message, be sure to call or email them back within 24 hours.

Since your first impression will often times be the only memory that a potential employer has of you it is extremely important to make that first impression count. Following the steps above will help you get past that first interview, distinguish yourself from other applicants, and land that new job you have been looking for.

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