Top Strategies to Make a Lasting Professional Impression in Your Job Search
Make a strong first impression in your job search with these strategies to stand out to employers.
It takes six seconds to make a first impression, and some say up to eight subsequent positive encounters to make a positive increase in that impression.
When you are job searching, having an additional eight encounters isn’t feasible, therefore first impressions are critical.
Most factors that affect a first impression are nonverbal and can start before an actual interaction with someone.
There are sensory factors such as appearance, how you sound, and smell which do rely on an actual interaction and come into play during the interview.
There are more factors that influence a first impression, two of which are cognition and information input.
Cognition involves mental action, or process of acquiring knowledge.
The Recruiter or the Employer engage in cognition when evaluating you as a candidate and should they decide they need more information, in the process of acquiring that information.
Information input is the information you are supplying when you apply.
You are influencing the first impression you can make during the job application process before you even interview.
If they are interested and want to do an initial phone screening or call to set up an interview and you are not there to answer they get your voicemail.
Is it set up?
I have lost count of the number of times, both in my past Recruiter role and as a Career Coach, that I have heard the automated phone response informing me that the voicemail is not set up and I cannot leave a message.
The fact they cannot reach you to even leave a message is a check in the negative impression column.
If they do reach a message, is it straightforward or are you joking around? Is it professional?
How about your email? Should they choose to email you instead?
Does the email address you set up sound business use acceptable?
It might even be a good idea to create an email that would be used only for job searching.
A lot of emails fill up with spam, having a dedicated email lowers the risk of missing a response.
Is there room in the mailbox or could they receive an email box is full response?
Ensure that it is easy and possible for them to communicate.
If they reach out to your References, have you informed them ahead of time you will be using them for a reference?
Will they be expecting the call? Do you know what your references will say?
You would be surprised how many references do not go the way you expected it to, so have that conversation with them to set expectations.
Did you submit a cover letter?
Did you double check the grammar and spelling?
If you used an AI tool, is it obvious or did you take the time to ensure it was personalized?
If you are talking on the phone, what are the background noises?
Are they too distracting?
Is the connection good or are you having a hard time hearing them?
Ask for a good time to call back to ensure a good conversation.
Do you have a copy of the information you sent available to you?
The resume you used, particularly if you personalized it for the particular job?
The cover letter you attached if it was requested and a copy of the job description that you applied to?
Having this information will have a positive effect on the first impression since you will sound prepared, informed, and most importantly, interested.
Luckily, with NGT, we have a perfect solution to help you with this part of the information input factor of first impressions.
This article covered some of the top ways you can affect a first impression.
Can you think of other ways you can convey information that would be a factor?
Take the steps needed to ensure that you are always positively affecting the impression that you make.
A successful job search involves doing all you can do to make that first positive impression.