4 Tips To Help You Nail First Impressions at Interviews

When you have a job interview, first impressions are huge. If you show up late with coffee spilled across your shirt, you may have lost the job before you even open your mouth. Why? Because the staffing agency and hiring manager are evaluating you for the job at every minute of an interview. They will assume that the way you act on a job interview is the way you will act on the job.

How to Make a Good First Impression

So how do you make sure your first impression is top notch? Follow these tips.

Tip #1: Get to the interview 15 minutes early

You want to make sure you have time to comb your hair and relax. Frankly, it’s a good idea to drive to the interview place a few days before so you know how long it takes you.

Give yourself a buffer zone of one-half hour more than it takes you so there’s no chance of your being late.

Tip #2: Make sure your clothes are clean and shoes shined

Sometimes we can think are clothes are clean and shoes shined and then…we pull them out of the closet the morning of the interview and find they’re not!

The solution is to look at your clothes a few days before. If a button needs to be fixed or laundry done, you’ll have time to do it.

Tip #3: Proofread your resume

Errors in spelling and formatting in a resume are bad news in an interview. They give the impression that you can’t pay attention to detail. Do a spell check on your resume. Have a family member or friend read it too.

Bring a copy with you in a folder. If you have to fill out an application, it’s handy to have.

Tip #4: Turn off your cell phone during the interview

Never, never answer or talk or text on your cell phone during the interview. First, it’s rude. Your interview deserves your time and attention in the interview process. Even if it’s something important, like a baby-sitter, call them after the interview.

Second, it can give your interviewer the impression that you’ll be talking on the phone during work hours. Employers want you to pay attention to the job at hand.

Looking for a Job? Let a Stride Staffing Help

If you’re looking for a job, let a staffing agency help. We can provide advice on getting a job and have openings using your skills. Stride Staffing’s goal is to build stronger connections between employers and individuals by doing staffing differently. Really. Contact us today for our employment agencies in Mesquite, Texas and other locations.

Why Is Following Up to an Interview Essential?

Following up with an employer is one of the essential tasks you need to do as part of your job search process. You should follow up every interview with a polite note stating again that you are very interested in the job and thanking the interviewers for their time. This can either be a letter or e-mail.

They should be sent within 24 hours of the interview, and sending one later the same day is preferable.

But why is it so important? There are 3 reasons.

1) Demonstrate Your Interest in the Position

A nice thank-you note is important to demonstrate your interest in the position. If they are deciding between candidates, the one who sends the thank-you note follow-up may be the one they may choose over the one who doesn’t.

A follow-up also shows that you have the kind of qualities employers look for. You are attentive to detail and, yes, have good follow-up on tasks. A person who follows up on interviewers is the kind of person who will also follow up on every work duty. That can be invaluable.

2) Focus on Key Areas

A follow-up can help you refocus the interviewer on your skills. Something like “as I mentioned in my interview, I was part of a team that drove production up 15% over previous levels” will keep your key qualifications in the minds of busy managers who have many demands on their time.

In addition, you can use the follow-up letter to focus more on areas that you either didn’t have time to cover in the interview (but which seem important) or didn’t realize would be important. If you have experience in software that they mentioned, for example, but that wasn’t specified on your resume, your follow-up can be an opportunity to mention it.

3) Avoid Getting Knocked Out of Consideration

The third reason is very related to the first. It shows good manners and good attention to detail to follow up. But some employers may actually use follow-up notes as a screening tool. If you don’t send one, they may not consider you further, no matter how qualified you are.

It’s a good indication of how much emphasis employers place on detail and the ability to follow up.

Need Help With With the Job Search?

Looking for a job? Let us help review your resume and qualifications. We have job postings and more for busy job-seekers. Stride Staffing’s goal is to build stronger connections between employers and individuals by doing staffing differently. Really. Contact us today for staffing agencies in Arlington, Dallas, Mesquite, DeSoto, and Richardson, Texas.