The saying that you only get one chance to make a first impression especially applies when you are seeking employment. The first impression you make on a potential employer begins before your even have your first conversation. So, how do you make a great first impression on a potential employer? It starts with how you present yourself, not just on your resume. Resumes are a separate topic.
7 Items to get in order before you interview.
Check your email address. Are you still using an email address you created in high school? That might not reflect the mature person you have become. It is time to change it. You can easily set up a new address for free at yahoo.com, gmail.com or hotmail.com to name a few. Keep it simple. Firstname.Lastname works well for most people.
Check your voicemail. Is it full? It is time to clean it out. You don't want to miss a call about your dream job and not know who called you because your mailbox was full.
Check your greeting. Now is not the time to be cute or a smartass. Record a friendly, professional greeting. Something like, "Hi, this is Sebra. I am not able to answer my phone right now. Please leave a message with your name and phone number and I will return your call."
Sometimes you should let the call go to voicemail. If you aren't in a good place to take an unscheduled call from an employer let your voicemail take a message. It is better to return the call promptly when you are able to talk. And please, don't answer the phone in the bathroom. I once had a candidate tell me she was talking to me from the bathroom at a job interview with another company. Needless to say, I wasn't impressed.
Show up 15 minutes early for your interview. Earlier than that can throw off the interviewer's schedule or cause you to have to wait longer. If for any reason you are running late, call. Realize that you may have to be rescheduled for a different date if you are considerably late.
Call to cancel your interview. If you have accepted another job or otherwise changed your mind about interviewing, just call and cancel your interview. It shows you respect other people's time. It also keeps the door open if your other prospect falls through.
Be friendly to receptionists. When you arrive for your interview be friendly and courteous to the receptionist and every person you come in contact with. How you treat staff before you are employed is an indicator of how you would treat them as colleagues. Receptionists will let the hiring manager know if you were rude or disrespectful.
First impressions start before you interview. Use these tips to make sure you are creating a good one.