How to make a GREAT first impression during your job interview

Life Work Balance

19 Dec 202115:10

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this informative video, Abby shares seven essential tips for making a great first impression during job interviews. She emphasizes the importance of punctuality, dressing appropriately, maintaining eye contact, providing thoughtful responses, preparing questions for interviewers, and following up with a thank you note. Additionally, she offers a bonus tip on remembering interviewers' names to enhance future interactions. These strategies aim to boost candidates' chances of progressing to the next stage and ultimately securing the job.

Takeaways

🕒 **Timeliness is crucial**: Arrive at least 15 minutes early to demonstrate punctuality and professionalism.
👔 **Dress to Impress**: Wear attire one step above the typical dress code for the position to show respect and prepare for the role.
👀 **Maintain Eye Contact**: Practice balanced eye contact to convey confidence and attentiveness, both in-person and via video interviews.
💡 **Thoughtful Responses**: Prepare and provide succinct answers to interview questions, showing you've given thought to your experiences and qualifications.
📝 **Take Notes**: Jot down key points during the interview to stay engaged and prepared to answer questions thoroughly.
🤔 **Prepare Questions**: Always have at least three questions ready for the interviewers to show your interest and engagement.
🤝 **Personal Connection**: In in-person interviews, make a personal connection by offering a handshake or alternative greeting, and bring extra copies of your resume.
💌 **Follow Up**: Send a thank you email or note after the interview to reinforce your appreciation for the opportunity and leave a positive lasting impression.
🧠 **Remember Names**: Make an effort to remember names of the interviewers and panel members for future interactions and to make them feel valued.
📈 **Research the Organization**: Understand the company culture and expectations to dress appropriately and align your interview approach with the organization's values.
🌟 **Make a Lasting Impression**: The final interaction, such as a thank you note, can significantly impact the面试官's overall perception of you.

Q & A

Why is timeliness crucial when attending an interview?
-Timeliness is crucial because it demonstrates your ability to be punctual, which is a valued trait in every job. Employers prefer candidates who can arrive on time for work, as it affects client relationships and the organization's overall success.
What should you do to ensure you arrive early for an in-person interview?
-You should plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early, accounting for potential traffic delays or other transportation issues, to show your commitment to punctuality and readiness for the interview.
How does your attire affect the first impression during an interview?
-Your attire should be one step above the typical dress code for the position. It should not be too casual or overly formal, as it can impact how interviewers perceive your fit within the organization and your professionalism for the role.
What is the significance of making eye contact during an interview?
-Making eye contact indicates confidence and certainty in your responses. It helps establish a connection with the interviewers and makes the interaction more comfortable, but it should be balanced to avoid being too intense or completely lacking.
How can you prepare for interview questions?
-You can prepare by watching interview tips videos, researching the organization, and developing a CAR or STAR response for behavior-based interview questions to provide thoughtful and succinct answers.
Why is it important to take notes during an interview?
-Taking notes helps you remember the questions asked, organize your thoughts, and ensures you provide complete answers. It also serves as a reminder of the CAR or STAR responses and the questions you wish to ask the interviewers.
What should you do if you are asked if you have any questions for the interviewers?
-Always have at least three prepared questions to ask the interviewers. This shows your interest in the position and the company, and it avoids giving the impression that you lack curiosity or engagement.
What are some tips for in-person interviews to make a good first impression?
-In addition to dressing appropriately and making eye contact, you should shake hands (or use an alternative gesture in a pandemic), bring copies of your resume to share, and maintain a professional demeanor throughout the interview.
How does a follow-up thank you note or email after an interview contribute to your impression?
-A follow-up thank you note or email shows appreciation for the opportunity, allows for a final positive interaction, and can help clarify any points from the interview, leaving a lasting positive impression on the interviewers.
What is the bonus tip for making the best impression during an interview?
-The bonus tip is to remember people's names. Using their names in future interactions can make them feel valued and positively impact your relationship with them, potentially enhancing your interview outcomes.
How can you enhance your interview preparation?
-Enhance your interview preparation by engaging in free career coaching and job search advice through Abby's live streams on Twitch, where you can get personalized guidance on your resume, cover letter, interview skills, and LinkedIn profile.

Outlines

00:00

📝 Introduction and Importance of First Impressions

The video begins with Abby, the host of the Life Work Balance YouTube channel, welcoming viewers and emphasizing the significance of making a great first impression during interviews. She introduces seven tips for acing the first impression and teases a bonus tip at the end. Abby also encourages viewers to engage with the content by liking and subscribing, and invites them to join her on Twitch for live career coaching and advice.

05:00

🕒 Timeliness as a Key to First Impressions

Abby discusses the critical role of timeliness in making a good first impression. She advises arriving at least 15 minutes early to the interview location to account for any unforeseen delays. Abby stresses that punctuality is a valued trait in every job and that being late can negatively impact a candidate's chances of being considered for the position.

10:01

👔 Dressing to Impress for Interviews

The third paragraph focuses on the importance of dressing appropriately for interviews. Abby suggests dressing one level above the typical dress code for the position, whether it's in a service industry or an office setting. She shares an anecdote about a candidate who dressed too casually, affecting their chances of being hired. Abby emphasizes that dressing appropriately can significantly influence the interviewer's perception of the candidate's fit for the role and the organization.

👀 Making Eye Contact During Interviews

In this section, Abby talks about the importance of making eye contact during both in-person and video interviews. She explains that maintaining eye contact conveys confidence and assurance in one's responses. Abby advises finding a balance where eye contact is comfortable and not overly intense. She also addresses the challenges of making eye contact in video interviews and provides tips for ensuring a natural and engaging interaction.

💬 Providing Thoughtful and Succinct Answers

Abby's fifth tip involves giving thoughtful yet concise responses to interview questions. She suggests taking a moment to gather thoughts before answering and preparing for common interview questions. Abby recommends using the CAR (Challenge, Action, Result) or STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure responses effectively. She also encourages note-taking during interviews to ensure comprehensive answers and to prepare questions for the interviewers.

🤔 Preparing Questions for Interviewers

Abby's sixth tip is about preparing questions to ask the interviewers. She stresses the importance of having at least three questions ready to show interest and engagement. Abby advises against saying that no questions are needed, as this can leave a negative impression. She also mentions a related video where she discusses the types of questions that can be asked at different stages of the interview process.

🤝 In-Person Interview Etiquette

This paragraph focuses on tips specific to in-person interviews. Abby suggests initiating physical contact, such as a handshake or a fist bump, to convey confidence and professionalism. She also recommends bringing extra copies of the resume to share with interviewers who may not have had a chance to review it thoroughly. Abby emphasizes that these actions contribute to a positive first impression and can enhance the interview experience.

💌 Following Up with a Thank You Note

Abby's seventh tip is to follow up every interview with a thank you email or note, which can leave a lasting positive impression. She mentions that most candidates neglect this step, but it's crucial in reinforcing the first impression. Abby also introduces a bonus tip: remembering people's names to make future interactions more personal and memorable.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡First Impressions

First impressions refer to the initial judgments or evaluations made about someone or something, which significantly influence future interactions. In the context of the video, making a great first impression during an interview is crucial as it can determine whether a candidate progresses to the next round or is considered for the job. The video emphasizes the importance of being punctual, dressing appropriately, and exhibiting confidence as part of creating a positive first impression.

💡Timeliness

Timeliness is the quality of being punctual or doing something within the agreed time. In the video, it is highlighted as a critical aspect of making a good first impression during an interview. Being early for an in-person interview shows the candidate's respect for the interviewers' time and their ability to manage their schedule efficiently, which is a valued trait in the workplace.

💡Dressing to Impress

Dressing to impress means wearing clothes that are appropriate for the occasion and make one look professional and presentable. In the context of job interviews, it involves dressing one level above the typical dress code for the position to demonstrate that the candidate is serious about the role and understands the professional standards expected in the workplace.

💡Eye Contact

Eye contact is the act of looking directly into another person's eyes during a conversation. It is a non-verbal form of communication that conveys confidence, attentiveness, and sincerity. In interviews, maintaining appropriate eye contact can create a connection with the interviewers and show that the candidate is engaged and confident in their responses.

💡Succinct Responses

Succinct responses are concise and to the point, avoiding unnecessary verbosity while effectively conveying the necessary information. In interviews, providing thoughtful yet succinct answers to questions shows that a candidate has prepared well, can articulate their thoughts clearly, and respects the interviewers' time.

💡Preparation

Preparation in the context of the video refers to the act of getting ready for an interview by researching the company, role, and potential interview questions. It involves understanding the organization's culture and expectations to tailor responses and attire accordingly. Being prepared demonstrates a candidate's commitment and seriousness about the job opportunity.

💡Interview Questions

Interview questions are the queries posed by interviewers to gauge a candidate's suitability for a job. These questions aim to assess the candidate's skills, experiences, and cultural fit with the organization. Effectively answering interview questions is crucial for making a positive impression and showcasing one's qualifications.

💡Follow-up

A follow-up refers to the act of contacting someone after an initial interaction to continue the conversation or express gratitude. In the context of job interviews, sending a thank-you email or note after the interview is a form of follow-up that can leave a lasting positive impression on the interviewers, reinforcing the candidate's interest in the position and appreciation for the opportunity.

💡Handshake

A handshake is a physical gesture of greeting, agreement, or completion of a deal. In professional settings, like interviews, a firm and professional handshake can convey confidence and professionalism. It's a non-verbal way of making a personal connection with the interviewers and can positively influence their perception of the candidate.

💡Remembering Names

Remembering names is the act of committing the names of people one meets to memory and recalling them accurately in future interactions. In the context of interviews, remembering and using the names of interviewers can make them feel valued and recognized, which can enhance the candidate's likability and the overall impression they leave.

Highlights

Abby shares seven tips for making a great first impression during any interview.

Timeliness is crucial; show up early to demonstrate your punctuality.

Dress to impress by dressing one step above the typical dress code for the position.

Maintain eye contact to show confidence and professionalism.

Give thoughtful but succinct responses to interview questions.

Prepare questions for the interviewers to show your interest and engagement.

In-person interviews benefit from a firm, professional handshake.

Bring copies of your resume to in-person interviews for a prepared impression.

Follow up interviews with a thank you email or note to leave a lasting positive impression.

Remember people's names for future interactions to make them feel valued.

Abby offers free career coaching and job search advice on her Twitch channel.

The importance of first impressions is emphasized, as it can greatly affect your chances of being hired.

For video interviews, look at the camera to establish eye contact and appear confident.

Take notes during the interview to ensure you answer questions fully and have prepared responses.

Having a CAR or STAR response prepared for behavior-based interview questions can be beneficial.

Ensure your eye contact is balanced – not too intense but not completely lacking.

In the era of the pandemic, adapt your greeting to maintain professionalism and safety.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

How to Make an Interview Conversational

RUSHED Interview Prep - How to Prepare for a Job Interview at the LAST Minute!

Questions to ask at the End of an Interview

HOW EARLY SHOULD YOU BE TO A JOB INTERVIEW? (7 BRILLIANT Job Interview TIPS!)

How To Prep For - and Ace - the Interview. State of California Hiring Process.

TOP 7 INTERPERSONAL SKILLS Interview Questions & Answers!