Ploymint

Remember the saying don’t judge a book by its cover? It’s a pretty good one to go by, but that doesn’t mean that people always abide by it. In fact, according to scientific research, first impressions actually go a long way in determining our opinions of people. Rather than the content of the interview, many employers will make their decision to hire you within the first 60 seconds of meeting you.

Don’t get rejected before you get started, follow these tips and nail a job interview in the first 60 seconds.

Attitude and Appearance

“Dress to impress, spark a lady’s interest.”  There was a reason why the Notorious B.I.G. didn’t tell guys to dress like a hobo. It might seem like a no-brainer, but your appearance is important to the vast majority of interviews you go on. Regardless of whether it is a corporate environment, or a more laid back and casual one, you want to look put together, ready, and prepared. Even if the employer tells you to wear casual clothes, you don’t want to look rushed. Pick out your outfit the night before and make sure that everything’s ready to go.

Other than just your clothing, you want to make sure that your attitude and physical appearance exude that you are the best fit for the job. Make sure you have good posture and maintain a suitable level of eye contact with the interviewer. Also, when you go into the interview, make sure your attitude is aligned with what the job needs. Is this a high-paced environment? Is it one that requires you to interact with a lot of people? Either way, you should try to match the company’s energy level and always keep a positive attitude. According to Forbes writer Carol Kinsey Goman, Ph.D., the first seven seconds of the interview are important and reverberate throughout its entirety.

Be Prepared

No one’s asking you to study for a U.S. History exam, but you need to do at least a little studying on the company and the position for which you are being interviewed. Chances are there will be some questions about why you want to work there, and if the best thing you can come up with is “I need a job,” there’s a really good likelihood that a competitor will be able to come up with a better answer.

Go over the most commonly asked interview questions and make sure that you are prepared for what is likely to come. The easiest way to fail an interview in the first 60 seconds is not doing your preparation prior to showing up. Ensuring you are ready will allow you to avoid this.

Personality

It shouldn’t surprise you that the employer already knows where you’ve worked and why you are applying. I mean, that’s why you sent in a resume and cover letter after all, right? According to this study, over 90% of employers will determine your hiring potential by body language and personality.

Being funny and relatable are two easy ways to get the hiring manager on your side. When a company is looking to hire someone, they aren’t only looking for who can do the job’s tasks, but someone who will get along with the team and be easy to work with.

It can be hard to break away from bad habits, but not making a good first impression with an employer is something that will keep you away from landing a job. Be personable, likeable, and knowledgeable, and the sky’s the limit on your job search. Good luck!