Making the Most of Your First Impressions - CareerAlley

Making the Most of Your First Impressions - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. It can sometimes take weeks before you find a decent job lead and recruiters have very specific methods in finding the best recruits. In order to shorten your job hunt, you need to make three excellent first impressions one on your resume, one over the phone and one in the interview. The resume Job seekers tend to spend hours honing their resumes, but the average hiring manager only takes seconds to read the documents. According to The Ladders, an online employment database,recruiters only spend six seconds before deciding if applicants would fit within an organization. They point out that employers want professional resumes that are easy to read and follow. Job seekers should accentuate important information like relevant experience, accomplishments and relevant skills training to attract the attention of hiring managers. Over the phone In order to avoid giving potentially low-quality candidates in-person meetings, managers call applicants to gauge potential. Southern Methodist University notes that phone interviews are excellent opportunities for job seekers to make great first impressions. The keys to a successful phone conference are the same as a face-to-face meeting. You must conduct yourself like a professional. Its important to avoid using slang and demonstrate how prepared you are to join the companys staff. Have your resume and cover letter available in case youre asked to explain any key points. Youll want to provide answers that are consistent with what the interviewer has in front of them. Take some time to do research about the company. Being able to comfortably discuss their products, business model and history will validate your level of interest in working for them. It also shows the interviewer that the job means enough to you to be equipped to discuss the organization. Most companies give you advanced notice of a phone interview, so youll have adequate time to prepare. Find a quiet spot with minimal distractions and focus on the phone call. In the interview At this stage of the process, youve made a good enough impression to be granted an in-person interview. Its important to take advantage of the opportunity and re-enforce their optimism about your candidacy. Be sure to arrive on time, but not too early for the interview. Wear your best professional attire as a means of showing that you take the opportunity seriously. In most cases, youll have to wait for the interviewer. If youre greeted by an administrative assistant, treat him or her with the same courtesy you would extend to the CEO. Many managers ask their employees for their opinions of applicants. When the interviewer arrives, shake his or her hand firmly and act polite. Youll want to solidify their opinion of you as professional, prepared and interested. Bring copies of your resume and references in case they request them. Honestly answer questions and take time to ask questions about the company. Scott Murray is the Social Learning Evangelist for www.TrainUp.com, the webs largest career marketplace. He is also a contributor to the Training Insights Blog, a series of blogs dedicated to career and professional development. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Visit me on Facebook