Why First Impressions Matter So Much (And How You Can Make a Good One)

Whether you are about to embark on an important job interview, meet your future in-laws, or about to have your first day at a new job, first impressions are always what comes first. It is completely normal to be nervous about what these people may think of you, but there is no reason to not feel confident and prepared. Most individuals will judge you within the first seconds of meeting you, and it is likely that opinion will not change. This is why it is important to knock your first impression out of the ballpark.

First, you need to understand the power of first impressions. This is not something to take lightly, but at the same time, you shouldn’t grow any grey hairs over it. Scientific studies say that a human’s mind can handle 40 bits of information every second. That may sound like a lot, but our unconscious mind actually handles 11 million bps. This all goes to say that we let the unconscious part of the mind handle things like first impressions, along with millions of other things. This means that when you walk into that room for your interview, you only have a few seconds for the interviewer to notice certain aspects about you before they start getting distracted with other thoughts or move on.

Now that you understand why first impressions matter so much, it is time to ensure your first impression is a good one:

 

1.    Set an Intention

Before you go into an interview, always set an intention. This is the most important aspect of making a good first impression. While you are getting ready for the interview, big event, or whatever it is you are preparing for, think about what kind of impression you want to make, what kind of interactions you want to have, and fill your mind with positive thoughts. When you walk into a situation that involves a first impression, the other person will notice if you have something on your mind or if you have strong intentions to be there. Make it a priority to stay focused upon entering the room.

2.    Consider Your Appearance

 Your appearance is a huge part of the first impression, and it all starts before you even meet the person. You don’t want to show up to a first meeting sweating and looking like a mess. When you get ready, you want to prepare in a well air-conditioned space. It’s natural for people to break out into a sweat from nervousness, so you want to offset those unfortunate signs of nervousness as much as possible. If your air conditioning is on the fritz, consider contacting a local air conditioning maintenance service.

If your skin has a tendency to break out when you are stressed or nervous, you also might want to consider finding a reputable drugstore concealer. This holds true for both men and women. With a top-notch concealer, the person you’re meeting won’t even be able to tell you’re covering up your splotchy, irritated skin.

Before you get ready for this first impression experience, think about all the ornaments you will be wearing. This includes jewelry, clothes, shoes, watches and other types of ornamentation. A watch is an especially underrated but essential ornament to give off a strong first impression. Wearing a watch tells the person you’re meeting that you are punctual and conscientious about being on time. Of course, any old watch won’t do. To upgrade your watch, consider looking Citizen watch reviews to see if there is one that matches your personal style. Citizen makes some great watches that look dignified and high-end to really enhance your appearance.

Make sure you are sending the right kind of message through what you are wearing. Whether you’re a fashionista or not, you will have to care about your outfit this time around. Clothes give a strong message as to who you are. It is also important to ensure you are comfortable with what you are wearing because interviewers can usually tell right off the bat when someone is uncomfortable.

3.    Be Aware of Your Body Language

Body language can often send a stronger message than what comes out of your mouth. Everything from the way you walk in, to your body posture, and the way you carry yourself during a conversation all count as body language.

Your body language can be influenced by other factors unrelated to the meeting such as the mattress you sleep on. You want to make sure that your posture is impeccable, which means you need to find a mattress that supports great posture. In addition, if you work in front of a computer all day or spend your free time playing computer games, you may not have realized that you’ve developed a squint. Squinting can give the impression of confusion or fatigue. To prevent yourself from developing the unimpressive squint, you may want to consider investing in a pair of protective computer glasses by Shade Glass. If it’s too late and you’ve already developed a squint, possibly from poor eyesight, you may also want to consider contacting a cataract surgery specialist.

If you aren’t even aware of your body language, then it is a good idea to start practicing in the mirror. Practice walking in and out of your room, standing or sitting, and practice leaning your shoulders back. It is also important to ensure you have a nice. firm handshake. To test your handshake skills, find a buddy who is willing to let you practice on them.

Remember, have a strong and confident walk upon entering the room. The first few seconds is your main shot! We recommend walking in with a pleasant smile to set the mood the way you intend.

4.    Be Interested & Interesting

Now you have all the essentials down for making a solid first impression within your first few seconds, it is time to ensure you maintain the right attention the rest of your time. It is important that you give off the notion you are truly interested in meeting these individuals and open to learning about who they are and what they do.

When you are meeting individuals for your first time, try and stay genuine and interested throughout the entire conversation. The better your conversations are, the more lasting your impression will be. Make it your goal to stay interested and to be interesting until you leave the individual’s presence. Sometimes, this can even be engaging in small talk or picking up on side comments and extending that into a longer and more productive conversation. If the person you’re meeting just happens to mention cooking, you can turn that into a conversation about your own culinary interests, what dishes inspire you, or even which type of wood cutting board cleaning methods you use. Unique comments are sure to make a lasting and solid first impression.