You bet.
First impressions are a very big deal. Make the wrong one, and the interview will be over before it begins.
(By the way, it’s very difficult to change a person’s mind once they’ve formed an initial impression about you. This is not a quirk unique to hiring mangers; we all do it.)
Your smile, your handshake, your demeanor, your mannerisms – they’re all critically important and can have a tremendous impact on the success (or lack thereof) of your candidacy.
Notice something about that list? It’s all about nonverbal communication – and things that occur before you sit down and start a conversation.
Never underestimate the significance of things like eye contact, gestures, facial expressions and body language. 60-75% of communication is nonverbal; those unspoken cues can be a lot more important than what you talk about.
People will not only be interested in your abilities, but will also be evaluating you as a potential member of the team. If you’re spending the entire day with a company, then, you’ll have numerous opportunities to make first impressions.
Don’t focus only on the people you’re interviewing with; you need to make sure you’re making a good impression with everyone you meet. That means the person at the reception desk…people you walk by in the hallway…people you’re introduced to but have little more than a few moments to greet before you move on.
There’s no telling who could become your advocate. There’s also no telling who has the hiring manager’s ear and may have input regarding the decision to bring you on board or cut you loose.
Be cognizant of how you come across when you first meet people. It’s vitally important.
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