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!