How To Make a Great First Impression In an Interview?

You have this important job interview coming up, and you have got cold feet! It’s the time you need to prepare for it and, fret not. We have compiled a list of interview tips for before, during and after interview which will help you overcome the fear and create a great first impression.

1. Before The Interview

● Research the company well. Knowing in detail about the company you’re interviewing with can help you attend the interview with a lot of confidence. Check the online resources of the company—website, press releases, news, social media channels to get a holistic idea.

● Be well versed with the job description. You need to align your elevator pitch as per the skill sets mentioned in the job description and show them you’re the perfect fit for the job.

● Be prepared with answers to the most frequently asked questions in the interview, like tell me about yourself, why do you want to work for this company, etc. You need to answer in such a way that you’re giving them an idea about the value addition you’ll provide.

● Rehearse the questions and answers and prepare well for the interview beforehand. You can take the help of any family member or friend. The mirror is the best as it lets you observe yourself too. This will help in increasing your confidence.

● Keep examples ready. You’ll be asked about the work you’ve done over the years. Use examples to illustrate how successful you were with regard to a particular task.

2. During The Interview

● Dress appropriately. You can ask about the dress code on email and keep your attire ready the night before itself. A good attire speaks volumes about your personality and helps in creating a pleasant impression.

● Get hard copies of your resume, along with a notepad and a pen. Use your hard copies wisely and highlight the specific achievements which you want to discuss and want the recruiter to notice. Taking notes also gives off a good impression as it shows you’re concerned about what the recruiter is saying. While you may be tempted to take notes digitally, always prefer pen and paper. Old school works. Maintain eye contact.

● Be punctual. It’s alright if you do not reach early, but don’t be late. Rather, plan out your entire schedule in such a way that you arrive 10-15 minutes early to the interview location. It will give you time to compose yourself and think about how you want to talk.

● Put up a confident stance and body language. Keep smiling, don’t crouch and take deep breaths. Make sure your appearance is top notch, meaning your nails are trimmed, hair is well kept, clothes are neat and pressed etc. Your body language should be approachable.

3. After The Interview

● Be sure you ask about the next steps to your recruiter.  Whether you will get a follow-up email, or an assignment or anything else needs to be confirmed with the interviewer once the interview is over.

● Send a thank you email after the interview. Sends out a really good vibe and a positive impression about you. You can include the notes and learnings if needed.

Wanna see how to answer this question in an actual interview? Click on the video to watch it!