13 ways to make a good impression in a job interview

You are already prepared for the interview: you have thought through a description of yourself and answers to possible questions about your experience. But regardless of experience and professionalism, it is possible to impress a person with whom it is worth dealing, or vice versa. How to avoid the second effect? By the way, if you are looking for job application database, you can find it on our website.

What does it mean to make a good impression?

Let's make a reservation right away: the task of a professional recruiter (if he is really a pro) is not to evaluate you purely subjectively “like or dislike” at the level of emotions, without rational justification. Its task is to evaluate:

1. Will you be able to adequately cope with the functions that the vacancy involves.  Here your abilities, experience, potential are important. And abilities and potential do not always depend only on professional knowledge and experience - character stock, psychotype also matter. For many modern professions, the so-called  soft skills  (soft skills) are more important than highly specialized professional knowledge. For example, communication skills are critically important somewhere (and they are also different), and somewhere - the ability to concentrate deeply and show extreme attention to detail. Such qualities as responsibility, punctuality are important in general everywhere. Candidates who give the impression of being unreliable and irresponsible are immediately excluded from the final list.

2. Will you fit into the team?  Simply put, whether it will be comfortable for colleagues to interact with you. The team result of work may depend on this, and in general the atmosphere in the team affects a lot. Rather, they will take an “average” person who is comfortable in communication than a brilliant professional who gives the impression of a conflict person or does not fit into the company’s communication culture so much that interaction with him can create discomfort for everyone else.

3. Your interest in this work and the seriousness of the mood.  It is unprofitable for employers to accept those who are highly likely to quit within the first few months, even if they are very experienced professionals.

4. General adequacy.  Yes, this is a very vague concept, but the reality is that in every company there is more than one story of unsuccessful hiring of a “problem person”: for example, a chronic “latecomer” or a brawler who lost an important client to the company, or simply too out of touch with reality, which also had an extremely negative impact on work. After them, recruiters and direct supervisors who take part in interviews are very afraid of getting burned and sometimes “blow on water”. Do not give extra reasons for this by your behavior.

Therefore, in an interview, it is important not to make annoying communication mistakes that can be misinterpreted not in your favor. Do your best not to let accidents get in the way of making a good impression. This will help simple rules of good tone. If you are perfectly familiar with business etiquette, then you already know them. True, knowing and observing are not the same thing. Before the interview, it will not be superfluous to recall them again.

1. Prepare for the meeting

Look for more information about the company before the meeting. If you studied it before sending a response, refresh the information in your memory. It is quite possible to do without this if you are applying for a mass linear position (for example, a salesperson). But if you get a job as a manager or specialist, then it will be a plus for you to be able to mention something at the interview that you know about the company, its projects and achievements. This shows your interest in working here. Employers appreciate it. In some cases, such preparation is an absolutely necessary condition. For example, it is very strange if you are a marketer and did not find out anything about the company's products before the meeting. For managers, it is also necessary to read about the company in advance.

2. Arrive on time

You cannot be late for an interview. This applies both to the traditional face-to-face interview and to the online format that has already become familiar to us. Everyone knows about this rule, and yet it is often violated due to offensive accidents. You can give a thousand reasons, explaining that in general you are very punctual, it’s just that this time you were unlucky, but alas, you will already spoil the first impression of yourself and get a minus in the assessment. You must be prepared for traffic jams, vehicle breakdowns, the fact that you will not be able to immediately find the right address, which will crash your home Internet or computer. Connect to the video meeting in advance, calculate the travel time with a margin: it’s okay if you show up on the phone / on site earlier than necessary, but you have time to gather your thoughts again and eliminate the effect of “flashiness” and excitement due to haste.

3. Give advance notice of changes in plans

Also an elementary rule, which, nevertheless, is very often violated. Everything happens, including circumstances that cannot be foreseen. If you feel that you may not be in time for an interview - try to call in advance and honestly explain the situation, ask for another date. This is perceived much better than if you simply do not show up or connect, but call later. With the second option, conclusions will already be drawn about your optionality.

4. Dress appropriately for the occasion

Of course, appearance is not the main thing, but you will still be met at the interview by manners and clothes. So that the latter does not let you down, take care of your appearance (even if your interview is taking place online!). General advice for everyone, regardless of whether your work involves the presence in the office: the main thing is to look neat and unobtrusive. As for the style of clothing, try to find out in advance if the company has a dress code (of course, this applies to cases when work is supposed to be in the office). It's okay if you ask about the dress code when making an appointment. If there is no strict dress code, then it is permissible to dress in a discreet casual style.

5. Take only what you need with you

Perhaps, having caffeine loaded, you think better. But this does not mean that you need to take an unfinished glass of cappuccino with you to an interview or put a cup of Americano next to your computer. A minimum of things - a minimum of problems. And you definitely shouldn’t come to a face-to-face interview with packages from the store - this way you will demonstrate that you are not very interested in this job, since you just came here “on the way”.

The recruiter may ask for a printed copy of your resume or portfolio. All this should be at the ready so that you don’t have to rummage through your bag, digging through a pile of extra papers and taking away precious interview minutes. Of course, your interlocutor can print all this himself, since you have already sent these documents to him. But why don't you use the simple opportunity to show your composure and business spirit?

6. Put the phone down and turn off the sound

This is a rule of good form for any business meeting. A person who has buried himself in the phone, thereby shows his disinterest in what is happening around him and in the purpose of his visit. And in anticipation of a meeting, it’s more useful for you to once again go over your resume and prepare the main theses of an oral story about yourself than to flip through the social media feed.

7. Be polite to everyone

You begin to be assessed even before you enter the office and start a conversation. Many recruiters and direct managers who select an employee for their team carefully observe how the candidate behaves when they appear in the office. Be polite to the receptionist, and if you are taken to the meeting room through the work areas, greet the employees who are sitting there at the entrance. It's the little things that get noticed, and you have a chance to show yourself as someone you enjoy doing business with.

8. Make contact

Don't be afraid to take the first step when communicating with a recruiter (or your potential boss) - start the conversation yourself. Try to initially set a positive tone for communication: “melt the ice” with a light, relevant joke (just don’t overdo it!) Or a remark about the weather. Be open and friendly, but at the same time try to stay within the framework of a business conversation. For example, if you noticed certificates or diplomas in the interlocutor's office or know something about his successful work projects, ask about it - he will be pleased. Perhaps you have common themes and even common acquaintances in the business world. This will help to establish informal contact, which is so important for the emergence of genuine human sympathy. At the same time, you will demonstrate your communication skills, which may be important for this job.

9. Do not cross personal boundaries

Trying to establish contact with the interlocutor, it is important to stick to the golden mean. Switching to a friendly style of communication, awkward attempts to flatter with inappropriate compliments, promise personal benefits if the recruiter will help you get this job, an overly detailed account of your life in order to arouse admiration or, conversely, pity - all this is beyond decency and will play against you.

10. Don't interrupt the interviewer

The same simple and obvious rule as "arrive on time", but it is often forgotten. The recruiter usually has a conversation script and a standard set of information that he must tell candidates about the company and working conditions. Don't knock him down so he doesn't miss anything. If a clarifying question arises during the process, remember it or write it down and ask later: the recruiter will definitely give such an opportunity.

11. Avoid getting too emotional

Even if you are very inspired by the vacancy, this is the company of your dreams, there is no need to try to impress the interlocutor with the pressure of emotions and even more so to put pressure on him (“Believe me, I am the one you need!”, “Please, please give me a chance, this job I need it like air! I promise you won't regret it if you take me!"). Excessive expression can give the impression of your imbalance. Try to show your interest in a calm tone. Just tell us what attracts you to this company and this vacancy, ask more questions about the essence of the work - thereby you will make it clear that you are really interested in it.

12. Be honest but avoid negativity

Rarely does an interview go without uncomfortable questions. Reasons for looking for a job, conflicts with the manager, professional failures - it is important for the employer to get a complete picture of your experience.

Be honest, but don't be negative: Be careful about what you say about previous bosses and companies you've worked for. And you definitely shouldn't try to deceive your interlocutor: the personnel market is smaller than it seems, your interviewer may be a friend of your former boss, and recruiters from different companies often know each other well - it will not be difficult for them to make inquiries about you and check  your references .

13. Try to react calmly

It happens that the behavior of the interviewer during the interview causes irritation. Perhaps this stress interview is one way to test your communication skills. For example, by asking many questions in a row, they test your attentiveness and ability to concentrate. It is not surprising if the work involves a large flow of verbal information in multitasking mode (you get a job as a personal assistant to the head, an administrator in the office, an account manager). Often and abruptly interrupt, trying to confuse? Maybe a stress test. If you can react with restraint and kindness, you will get a plus for your candidacy. Another question is whether you can then work in the same mode all the time, whether you are used to this format. If not, this is not the job you need. So feel free to ask the interviewer directly.