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Everyone knows how important it is to make a good first impression, and how difficult it is to change an impression once made. And most people are aware how quickly others form impressions of us. In fact, it may take as little as seven seconds. And if the good impression you want to make is with a potential employer or business contact, those seven seconds are pretty important.

So, what can you do to make a good first impression? Here are a few ideas.

Dress is important

It probably comes as no surprise that how we dress makes a big impression on other people. So, make sure your attire is appropriate to the situation. If it is a job interview, the general rule of suit and tie still holds.

You also want to make sure you are well groomed – shaved, hair combed neatly, fingernails trimmed and clean

Watch your smile

Smiling is generally a good way to make a connection – if it is genuine. What you need to be aware of is forcing a smile. It is pretty easy to see if someone is faking it. In a genuine smile, the corners of the mouth are raised, as are the eyebrows, and the skin wrinkles a little around the eyes.

Look people in the eye.

Looking people in the eye also helps to form a stronger connection. When you look people in the eye, you come across as trustworthy, confident and sincere. But if you are constantly looking down, or to the side, you come across as the opposite. One way of making good eye contact is to look at the eyes of the other person until you can determine the color of his or her irises.

Watch how you speak

In a conversation, rushing to answer a question, or conversely, taking too long to answer, both make you appear a little insecure and anxious. Take a couple of seconds to gather your thoughts before you speak, but not any longer.

How fast you talk makes a difference as well. Talking too fast will certainly not give a good impression. Have a steady flow of words, pausing where necessary for emphasis.

You should also pay attention to your intonation, the rise and fall of your voice, or a higher volume for emphasis. This prevents you from talking in a deadpan, monotonous voice, which turns people off.

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