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Make the First Ten Minutes of the Interview Count

Job interviews can be so stressful and tricky. There are so many things to remember to say, others to avoid, while still other things to respond to with grace. It can seem almost impossible to know the best way to approach the interview in order to get the job. Well, know this. An interviewer typically makes up his/her mind about a candidate in the first ten minutes of the interview. It’s true! It has been statistically proven that what you say or do in that small window of time will either get you hired or passed over for the job you are applying for. Here’s what you can do to maximize the first ten minutes of any interview:

1.  Appearance- In trying to get a job and make the best impression in the first ten minutes of your interview,      you should always dress appropriately. Your appearance should be anything but sloppy, and you should be      clean and well-groomed. This goes for your nails, hair, teeth, and skin. Moreover, you should dress      professionally-such as in a suit, a button collared shirt, and nice pants or skirt. Though each job has its own      mode of what they consider professional, you can never go wrong by over-dressing for a job interview. It      shows that you value the opportunity of an interview and want to make the best first impression as      possible.

2.  Be Pleasant- From the moment you enter the door to ask to see your interviewer, you should be pleasant                                                                        and looking to make a positive first impression. From how you                                                                        speak with the receptionist to someone you may hold the door                                                                        open for, they will all notice how you act and most probably be                                                                        asked what they think of you as a possible candidate.

                                                                  3.  Be On Time-Though it may seem like a given to make sure you                                                                        are on time for a job interview, many candidates forget the                                                                        importance. Many employers-no matter how well the interview                                                                        actually goes-will discredit you for the position based on your                                                                        tardiness alone, so this is why it is imperative to be on time. Even                                                                        better is to get there approximately 15 minutes early to give                                                                        yourself some preparation time as well as factor in possible like                                                                        traffic or parking.

                                                                  4.  Be Prepared- Being prepared for all questions that come your                                                                        wayis significant, but many times the hardest questions come in                                                                        thevery beginning of the interview-so this is why you have to                                                                        have your answers all the more prepared. Many employers will                                                                        ask you questions, such as: “why do you want to work here?”,                                                                        “why should I hire you?”, and “tell me about yourself”. All of these canthrow even the most polished of interviewees off guard, so this is why it is important to be prepared for it.

5.  Know the Company- Even if the only reason you are looking to get a job at a particular company is because      you want a higher salary, one of the only reasons that you will get it is if you know about the company      before the interview. Research their site online and read up on their most important of information, i.e.      mission statement, goals, financial information, etc. This way when they ask you why you want to work for      them, you’ll have a surfeit of resource info to best answer the question.

6.  Body Language- Though it may seem perhaps insignificant, body language can make or break even the      best of interviews. It has been proven that interviewers react a certain way to certain types of body      language. For example, crossed arms and/or crossed legs can signal close mindedness or negative nature.      More often than not, candidates with this type of body language are not hired.