The importance of making a great first impression is one of those truths about the job interview that is so renowned, it has become a cliché. There is a significant amount of pressure placed on those first critical seconds of a new encounter or interview that supposedly define your relationship going forward. A great first impression in the interview and job recruitment process is an imperative tool to have in your candidacy tool belt. While not all of us are born with the natural grace of a royal, or the type of easy, breezy smile that could feature in a toothpaste commercial; a great first impression is never out of reach. These skills, and take note, a seamless meet and greet does require skills, can be learned. For most people, a great first impression is not spontaneous, but is crafted and cultivated. By following these simple tips, you can step into OCI’s knowing that you can achieve the same.
1. Always be on time. A first impression only starts once you arrive.
William Shakespeare has provided the world with many a literary gems, but this one bodes best for the candidate looking to start off on the right foot, “Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.”
OCI’s are timed down to an exact science, and you will only have a calculated and numbered set of minutes. Don’t be the last candidate, fiddling with your schedule, trying to remember what booth you’re headed to. Get to where you need to be as soon as possible, and take advantage of the few extra seconds to introduce yourself before the formal interviewing begins.
After OCI’s, timing becomes infinitely more important in the interview process. There is nothing more off putting than a late job applicant. Life happens and coupled with Murphy’s Law, this means on the day of your interview: your bus doesn’t show up, there is a delay on the train, you spilled coffee on your shirt and had to buy a new one, the little elves hid your car keys, there was a sheep crossing on the highway, and your dog ate your homework. The folly of these examples is meant to demonstrate that even the most reasonable or unreasonable of reason for tardiness sounds like an excuse. Don’t make excuses, instead, make a plan and a back-up plan to ensure, no matter what, you arrive with time to spare.
2. Take a long look in the mirror. What does your first impression look like?
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the most employable of them all?
The answer is: the person who looks the part. While I am sure you could wow anyone with your intelligence, diligence, and work ethic, these characteristics take time to discover and appreciate. A person’s precursory perception of you is based on what they see and hear in the first several seconds of introduction. This is not a game of vanity where the fairest of them all wins; however, it is important to look neat, put together, current, and like you belong in the environment.
During OCI’s, there is a generally understood uniform of suits that vary from grey to black, possibly with a side of navy. Keep it conservative at this stage in the game, and aim to create a look that will appeal to all sizes of firms you will be interviewing with
As aforementioned, dress for the part during the second round of in-firm interviews. While a black, formal suit may be appropriate for a Bay Street firm, a more casual, coloured and coordinated look may be better suited for a boutique firm outside the downtown core. Take time to assess your image and its appropriateness for your interview environment.
3. Listen to your non-verbal communication. What does your first impression say in its silence?
93% of all daily communication is nonverbal; actual words only take up 7%, so they say.
Studies show time and time again that non-verbal communication is as or more important than verbal communication. This means you are saying a great deal without saying anything at all. The key to a great first impression is the ability to make the other person relaxed and comfortable in your presence. By sending the right body signals, you can express an intangible ease about yourself without having to say a word. Head back to the mirror, practice saying hello, asking and answering questions, and moving through the motions of the OCI or in-firm interview you are scheduled to attend. Alternatively ask a friend to role-play the interview or event with you. After these exercises, analyze your natural body movements: do you fidget, touch your hair, tap your foot, cross your arms, or look away from eye contact? By being aware and conscious of “body bad habits,” you can actively work to exude a more calm, confident and open self through your non-verbal communication.
4. You’re already impressive
You’re in law school, you were selected from hundreds on candidates to be interviewed, you made it this far, and you are already impressive. Acknowledge that you’re awesome, and take that into the interview with you. After all the tips and tricks in the world, a great first impression hinges on one fundamental hook: Confidence. Be confident in your skills, talents, resume, and general fantastic personality. The people across the table are already confident that you have the potential to be a future colleague at their firm. They are already impressed, all you have to do is smile through the meet and greet that you have arrived for on time, and in appropriate attire. It’s really that easy.
Good luck Ozzies,
Your (obviously impressive) Editors-in-Chief