IMPRESSIONS: Continued

Submitted by: Ross Roberge, Director of Business Development In my previous blog, I touched on personal appearance during an interview. This time I’d like to talk about communication. Communication is often thought of as writing or talking, however there are many more ways in which we communicate. While written (resume/cover letter) and verbal communication play a large role in the interviewing process, nonverbal communication also plays an equally important role when you are presenting yourself. First let us touch on the easy one, verbal communication. When speaking during an interview SPEAK UP! By speaking in a clear, confident, volume appropriate voice I am a lot more likely to listen intently. Nothing is more painful in an interview than listening to someone who looks at their feet and speaks just above a whisper. By maintaining eye contact you are not only showing interest and confidence, you are projecting your voice towards the listener. I do not place any candidate that cannot speak confidently and maintain eye contact during our interview. Nonverbal communication is just as important as verbal communication. I already touched on eye contact in the previous paragraph; however it belongs here as well. Eye contact conveys confidence and knowledge but it also allows you to judge the reaction(s) of the interviewer. Another hint, sit up straight! Slouching is often found more frequently in the younger applicants I interview. If it looks like you are lazy during your interview you can bet I won’t take you seriously as a candidate. Sit up straight, cross your legs at the ankles (women it is acceptable to cross your legs). Fold your hands and set them on your lap or on the table in front of you.

Impressions: College and High School Grads - This blog is for you

Submitted by Ross Roberge, Director of Business Development It is not socially acceptable to ‘judge-a-book-by-its-cover’. Oh yes it is! As a recruiter, that’s what I get paid to do. I judge, assess and advise potential candidates to get them their dream job. Here are some basic guidelines that’ll help you score big at an interview. 1. The right attire. At an interview you are trying to convey who you are, what you know and what you can do. Your resume speaks to your capabilities and knowledge. The essence of who you are is told through body language, facial cues, voice inflection, and overall appearance. Dress the part you are interviewing for. For example; interviewing for a receptionist position for a technology company, one would expect you to dress in business-professional. On the other hand; if you are a landscaper, I’d recommend wearing polo and a clean pair of Carhartts. I use this example because it illustrates the difference in dress/position. In my past managerial position at a landscaping company, the candidates who were in clean dress got the position over the candidate who came in looking like a hot mess. The decision was not made solely on their appearance; however it was that first impression of being put together and organized which made them the desired candidate – one that would represent my company well. Dressing in clean pressed clothes, having your hair styled (or under control), as well as being mindful of other attributes of your personal appearance, places you at the top. 2. The best hand shake. You can tell a lot about a person by the way they shake your hand. This is where I personally get the best feel for who you really are. More times than not, I can distinguish a contender from a non-contender through their handshake as well as their appearance. When shaking the potential employer’s hand, make sure you make full hand contact. You want to have a firm handshake (guys/gals please don’t turn into the Incredible Hulk!). This type of contact says you’re interested and engaged in this interview. A half-handshake (ex. finger-tips are the majority of what the employer is shaking) says that you are hesitant and holding back. Always make good eye contact while you are shaking hands. Follow these simple guidelines and you’ll be sure to make a great first impression!