Its All About the (first 5 minutes of the) Interview

According to survey of hiring managers in small and large businesses alike, the decision to consider a candidate for a position comes within the first 5 minutes of the interview. Things like:

• Did the person appear presentable (clean, put together, professional looking)
• Is he/she confident of their capabilities?
• Can they express themselves and their thoughts clearly?
• Do they have anything about them that makes others nervous?

You don’t really have time to make a good impression. As soon as you enter the room for the interview, its already being decided if you are going to be a serious contender for the job.

Therefore, do the obvious:

• Dress neatly
• Look the interviewer directly in the eye
• Shake their hand firmly
• Prepare your thoughts in advance
• Make sure you can answer in a confident voice, without stammering or showing your underlying neverousness

Getting up to the interview means you had the right connections or resume. But getting past the interview, that’s entirely up to you. Nothing will help you after this point if you don’t come across as the right person for the job.

This is you chance to impress, and it has to be for real. If you got what it takes to do the job right, here’s your chance.

Its All About the (first 5 minutes of the) Interview

Filed Under: Career Advice

Tags: job interview • successful interviewing tips