“You will never get a second chance to make a first impression”                                                               Will Rogers

In workplace interactions, first impressions are crucial. Knowing that you have less than a few minutes (sometimes even a few seconds!) upon meeting a potential employer to make a good first impression can be daunting. While you can’t always predict the types of things an employer is looking for in a candidate, you can take note of these non-verbal cues which heavily influence your first impression on an employer – in some cases, more than anything you say.

Focus on Your Posture and Body Language

Your posture conveys attitudes and feelings. Standing tall, pulling your shoulders back, and holding your head straight are signs of confidence and competence. Slouching, on the other hand, is not. For example, if you are telling your interviewer how thrilled you are to be there that afternoon discussing how think you can help with their company’s strategic business plan, but your posture is closed in and your arms are crossed, your interviewer will take note of what your non-verbal communication and question just how thrilled you are.

Maintain Consistent Eye Contact

For many professionals, eye contact is one of the hardest non-verbal communication skills to master. It can be quite challenging to hold the gaze of someone in a nerve-wracking setting, such as an important meeting or interview.

However, by maintaining consistent eye contact with your interviewer, you are establishing interest and openness. It’s okay to break eye contact to take notes or think before speaking, but ensure that you quickly gain this contact back. A good rule of thumb is every 7 to 10 seconds.

In scenarios where you are interviewing with more than one person, don’t make the mistake of maintaining eye contact with just one person, as this will stop the other members of the group from listening. Instead, try to focus on a different person each time you start a new sentence.

Pro tip: Business author and blogger Steven Aitchison recommends the triangle, which is when you look at one eye for about 5 seconds, look at the other eye for 5 seconds and then look at the mouth for 5 seconds, and keep rotating in this way.

Shake Hands

Research shows that it takes an average of three hours of continuous interaction to develop the same level of rapport you can get with a single handshake. A firm handshake far outperforms a weak one. A proper handshake, according to Etiquette International is “firm, but not bone-crushing” 3 second exchange which is released after the shake, even if the introduction continues. If you know that you get clammy hands, ensure that you wipe them down ahead of time in anticipation of an introduction.

Lean in Slightly

By leaning forward towards your interviewer, you are demonstrating a level of engagement and interest with the subject matter. On the other hand, leaning too far forward can impede on their personal space and appear threatening, so practice with a friend or colleague to gage a happy medium – and achieve the perfect “lean!”

Smile!

Nerves can get the best of even the most experienced candidates, so remembering to smile is often overlooked. People will be a lot more inclined to listen to you if you seem to be a positive, pleasant person. A smile also indicates that you’re happy to be in the presence of your interviewers or colleagues, and excited about the prospect of working with them and their team. Etiquette professional Nancy R. Mitchell reminds candidates that employers are not only filling an opening in their team, but also filling an opening in their ‘company family.’

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