Job Interview: 4 tips to make a good impression

How to stand out from other candidates? How to be chosen? Are there key, decisive elements that can help you be even more effective, to improve your presentation? Probably yes, there are, which are an integral part of what is now called "non-verbal intelligence", which is not said, stated, but which is received by the intellect consciously or unconsciously. This step is a necessary step in order to establish a climate of trust that will favor a negotiation to your advantage.

1- Solid preparation

Good preparation involves, first and foremost, a real knowledge of the company. Many recruiters have noted, with some dismay, that candidates did not know, or did not know at all, the company and its range of activities. Yet, having clear and precise notions and information about what makes the Company is fundamental because there is no real motivation unless you are informed and aware of what your potential responsibilities entail.
So take the time (or rather, save time) to search for and find interesting information about the company: for example, explore its various activities, the most recent ones, its important managers, its general or internal policy, its salary levels, etc. and to do so, think, above all, about the Internet, social networks, the press, your friends and your professional network.
Think, well in advance, to prepare a few simple questions that you will ask the recruiter at the end of the job interview, when he offers you the opportunity. Avoid, of course, the usual questions, which annoy more than they satisfy, revealing your ignorance. In the same way, absolutely avoid overly complex questions, without real interest and which put both the interviewer and yourself at ease.

2- A key first contact

Never forget that the first contact with the recruiter is paramount. This first meeting must, in order to be positive, be relaxed, friendly, polite and above all, reassuring for both parties. The handshake at the beginning often has a significant impact on the rest of the interview. Non-verbal language is extremely important: eye contact, smiles, exchanges, silent or spoken…
Avoid generating negative emotions. These multiply and trigger everyone's defense systems. Have simple, normal human contact reflexes: move towards the other person, look at them, straight in the eyes, without insisting politely, obviously, but frankly. Smile sincerely or abstain and remain cordial but avoid smirking. Shake their hand firmly, not too hard, not too soft, not too insistent.


3- An attempt at professional seduction

Obviously, this is not about romantic seduction! However, undoubtedly, it is a question of reassuring your interlocutor, of pleasing him, in the sense that you will inspire confidence, that you will make him want to continue on the path of collaboration.

Be careful, since he doesn't know you yet, his defense system is on alert and can disrupt his analytical abilities. So it's up to you to restore the disturbed balance. Remember, however, that trust is not only acquired through words and that, if you are too talkative, you risk provoking the opposite of what you want. The word awakens doubt. Silence, too. Dose! Know how to measure, balance!

Your attitude, what emanates from you, positive, open, sociable, simple but firm, precise and clear, can create a climate of trust quite quickly. Speak softly, with simple words, calmly, smiling, without rushing but without too much hesitation either. Use short, clear sentences. Limit stress by synchronizing your words with your voice and your general attitude. We must understand the basis of our human communication: we evolve in the fuzzy field of perception. Thus, any evaluation proves irrational and based on criteria that are not very strict and/or measurable. Feeling is the major component of human relations.

All social communication relies on a combination of attitudes, gestures, vocal variations, words, physical appearance, and mastery of the environment. Needless to say, the exercise can be complicated if it is not prepared beforehand or if you are not naturally very relaxed and convincing.

The final objective of the meeting being that the recruiter sees you as a future collaborator whom he is proud to present to his clients and partners, your task is to set about inspiring confidence from the beginning to the end of the job interview.

Even if you perfectly master all the answers to his questions, you have many chances of making a bad impression. In fact, you are much more likely to make a bad impression than to make a good impression! We are all victims of stress, especially when we attach a lot of importance to something we want to obtain. The more stress increases, the more visible it will be... and the less you will be able to leave a good impression!
That is why it is important to create positive emotions from the beginning of the interview.


4- Your image is important

We have said it a hundred times and we will repeat it: clothes do indeed make the monk! To be able to convey a good image of yourself, start by dressing according to the usual codes of the working world: soberly, discreetly and classically. Remove your piercings and other tribal markings and leave your tattoos under your shirt, for the duration of the interview. They will be of no help to you because some jobs are clearly incompatible with these tribal signs in vogue.


The ReKrute Team