You sent out résumé’s, pounded the pavement, survived the gauntlet of phone questions and email queries. Now it’s time for the all-important interview. As HR and hiring mangers will tell you, particularly in the hospitality field, first impressions are crucial in getting the job.
The wrong first impression can be a deal breaker for even the most qualified candidates; conversely, a candidate who presents a positive first impression can overcome marginal qualifications. So how to go from zero to hero in the first five minutes of your interview? Some tips:
Body Language. Stand up straight, don’t droop your head or shoulders, and don’t fidget. Don’t shift back and forth when seated, crossing and re-crossing your legs. Keep in mind that the receptionist will be watching you and may relay your uneasiness and poor body language to your interviewer.
First Contact. Look the interviewer directly in the eyes and smile. A gentleman waits for a lady to extend her hand before shaking it. In all other situations, you may extend your hand first. A man shouldn’t offer a bone-crushing handshake to a woman. Man to man, the handshake can be firm, not painful. Some salesmen like to really crunch those metacarpals. Not a good idea.
Be Resume Ready. Know your CV inside and out. Avoid having to refer to it for facts, or saying, “If that’s what it says.” Be able to answer (rehearse this with a friend or colleague) any questions about any employment gaps or specific performance claims in your resume. This would include such interview traps as, “What’s your biggest negative?” or “Tell me about yourself.” Or the tricky, “What didn’t you like about your last boss?” Above all, let the interviewer guide the interview and questions. Don’t go off on any tangents about hobbies, vacations, or college antics.
Maintain High Energy. If you’ve been going on interviews for some time, you may feel like you’re just running out of steam. Keep the energy level up. Smile, and provide more than a yes or no answer to each question. Several sentences ending on an upbeat note will leave the best impression.
For an added perspective, check out this video:
Got any tips on the critical first 5 minutes of a job interview? Share your comments in the section below.
Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients. Please see more of his blogs and view additional job postings on Nexxt.
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