We all like to think that entering a job interview with a fantastic set of skills, good qualifications and years’ worth of experience will be enough to help us get our dream job. But if you don’t make a great first impression on your interviewer from the moment you enter the room, unfortunately, all of these amazing qualities just won’t matter.  

From the get-go, your interviewer will be trying to figure out whether you’ll be a good fit for the role, the company and their existing team. Before you even get the chance to give a concise answer to a question or to talk about your previous roles, they will be forming an opinion of you and evaluating your potential. After all they want to make sure that the person they choose for the role is the right one.  

With such a small window of opportunity to make a stellar first impression, the pressure is well and truly on. But don’t panic! Before you go to your next job interview, check out our top tips for how to show yourself in the best light, so you can enter the interview room feeling calm and confident. 

Dress the part 

What you decide to wear for your job interview can have a big impact on how you’re perceived by your interviewer. Go too casual with your outfit choice and you could be giving the impression that you’re not that serious about the role. But turning up in an outfit that’s too overly smart could also be a turn-off if the company prefers a more relaxed vibe for its employee’s work attire. It’s all about finding a good balance between the two. 

Your interview outfit needs to exude professionalism, whilst also making you feel confident and comfortable. Nothing can help you achieve this better than a clean and freshly pressed suit or knee-length dress with a sparklingly clean pair of shoes. The beauty of this winning outfit combination is that you can make either of them look more formal or informal, depending on the vibe of the company you’re interviewing at. Just make sure your outfit fits well and isn’t too revealing or overly patterned. 

If you’re really struggling to decide what would be appropriate to wear, don’t be afraid to get in touch with the interviewer to get some pointers and to show your initiative. 

Be punctual  

One of the simplest ways to impress your interviewer is by being punctual and getting to your job interview venue on time. Ideally, you want to arrive earlier rather than being bang on time to give yourself a few extra minutes to compose yourself before entering the interview room. Being slightly early will also be appreciated by your interviewer, who will more than likely have a busy schedule they want to stick to closely.  

To make sure you give yourself plenty of time to arrive to your interview, plan your route and have a few back up plans prepared ahead of time. If possible, travel to the destination to see how long it might take you to get there, whilst also taking into consideration possible congestion areas and roadworks along the way. This will give you a strong indication of whether to take a different route or mode of transport. 

Running late for your interview? Call your interviewer as soon as possible to let them know what’s happening. Things happen that are sometimes out of our control and they will appreciate you keeping them in the loop, rather than just showing up late. 

Be polite to everyone 

Did you know that some companies will ask their receptionists to report back on the attitude and demeanour of any interviewees that come through their doors? They might not be the people who will give you the job, but as the first people you come into contact with, their input is considered valuable to the hiring team. In other words, their opinion of you could be the difference between you getting a call back for a second interview or not.  

So, from the moment you enter the building, remember to be polite and treat everyone you meet, from the receptionist to potential co-workers to the office cleaners, with the same courtesy as you intend to give to your interviewer. If you treat everyone kindly and with respect, it won’t take long for positive feedback to get back to your interviewer, which is bound to make you stand out. 

Do your homework 

Another simple yet effective way of impressing your interviewer is by knowing as much as you can about the job role and the company itself. Re-read the job posting so you can identify which skills, experiences and qualifications you can talk about that you know the employer will be looking for. Do some research into what the role entails and what responsibilities you’re likely to have too. 

To make sure you can talk intelligently about what the company does, read the information available on their website and social media platforms. You can also use social media to connect and chat with the company’s current employees, to get the inside scoop on the company’s plans, challenges and upcoming events. This will give you a great head start when the interviewer asks you questions about how much you know about the company. 

You can even do some research on your interviewer. This will take away some of the mystery and give you a better idea of the person who will be interviewing you. You might even discover that you have some things in common that you can drop into conversation during your interview.  

Last but not least, don’t forget to prepare a list of questions to ask your interviewer once the interview is coming to a close. This level of preparation is bound to work in your favour and shows that you’re enthusiastic about the role and working for the company. 

Now that you’re armed with our expert advice, you’ll hopefully be feeling a little less daunted by the premise of impressing your interviewer. These tips may not guarantee that you’ll get the job, but they will help you start your interview on the right foot which will put you in good stead. Best of luck! 

If you’d like more pointers for taking that next big step on your career ladder, get in touch with our consultants today on 0121 633 3030.