Makingafirstimpressioninajobinterviewiscrucial.Accordingtothehumanresourceconsultingfirm,RobertHalf,youhavebetweenfiveandtenminutestomakeanimpressionduringaregularinterview.Withspeedinterviews,youhavetomakeanimmediateimpression.

HOWTOMAKEAGREATFIRSTIMPRESSIONKNOWYOURVALUE:

Ø Assessyourstrengthsandchallenges(yes,challenges—youmaybeaskedtogiveanexampleofanarea(s)forimprovement)

Ø Knowwhatyouhavetoofferanemployerandbeabletoarticulateit.Questionsmaybe:• “Whyshouldwehireyou?”• “Wehavejustinterviewedthreecandidates,whatmakesyoumorequalified

thanhim/her?”

Ø PreparethekeypointsthatmakeyouqualifiedforthispositionPAYATTENTIONTODETAILS:

Ø Handshake:• nicefirmhandshake(notlimp,notbone-crushing)

o Article:Forbes–WhyYourHandshakeMatters(andHowToGetitRight)

Ø Introduction:• stateyournameandthanktheemployerfortheopportunitytointerview

Ø Conclusion:• shakehandsandthankemployerfortheinterview(getemployer’sbusiness

cardsothatyoucansendathankyounote[handwrittenifpossible]—within24hoursofyourinterview)

Ø Documents:• copyofyourcoverletter,resume,andalistofthree-fivereferences(takea

pen,justincaseyouareaskedtofilloutforms)

Ø Businesscard:• takeyourownbusinesscardtoleavewiththeemployer

Ø Questionstoaskemployer:• theemployermayofferyouanopportunitytoaskhim/herquestions:

o “WhenwillIhearabouttheposition?”o “Whataresomeoftheskillsandabilitiesnecessaryforsomeoneto

succeedinthisjob?”

DOYOURRESEARCH:

Ø Researchthejobandthecompany(ontheInternetorinperson)—oneofthequestionsmaybe:

• “Whydoyouwanttoworkhere?”• “Whatdoyouknowaboutourcompany?”

PRESENTAPROFESSIONALIMAGE:

Ø Paycloseattentiontoattire:• dressforsuccessinbusinessformalwear

o Videoandarticle:TalentEgg–Howtodressforcareersuccess:TipsFromImageExpertErinMiller

Ø Otherdetails:

• scentsensitive(noperfumeorcologne)• nosmokingbeforehand• stayawayfromstrongfoodsthenightbefore• getagoodsleepthenightbeforeyourinterview• befamiliarwiththecontentsofyourcoverletterandresume• arriveatleast15minutesbeforeyourinterview• turnoffyourcellphone• attendtoyourbodylanguage

o Video:AboutCareers–Improveyourinterviewappearanceandbodylanguage

• neverspeakbadlyofaformeremployerorworkplaceexperiencesPRACTISE,PRACTISE,PRACTISE:

Ø Whenyoudosomethingmanytimes,youbecomebetteratit.• Practiseyourinterviewquestionswithsomeone;ifyoupractise onyourown,make

suretosayyouranswersoutloud(don’tjustanswerinyourhead).FORMOREINFORMATIONONINTERVIEWS,VISITTHEFOLLOWINGSITES:

Ø RedRiverCollegeStudentEmploymentServices• InterviewPreparationTipSheet

Ø MonsterCareerAdvice• HowtoPrepareforaJobInterview:10TipstoBoostYourSkills

Ø AlisAlberta• The4PsofInterviews