Five Secrets to Impress a Job Interviewer

Without a doubt, making a positive first impression is crucial in most pursuits, but never more so than when interviewing for a job. Heather Huhman, writing for Glassdoor, notes that many job seekers are unaware of how to make that perfect first impression.

Most times, hiring managers and interviewers are looking for people whose personality and attitude will be a good fit for their business. If you don’t come across in a positive fashion during your interview, regardless of how qualified you are, there’s a really good chance you won’t be getting a call offering you the job.

Huhman notes that if you want to impress the hiring manager during your next interview, you need to be a likeable candidate, and offers the following five secrets to help you meet that goal.

How to be a Likeable Job Candidate

Click through for five ways you can impress the hiring manager during your next job interview, as identified by Heather Huhman, writing for Glassdoor.

Do Your Research

Secret #1: Research the interviewer and company before the interview.

Likable job candidates genuinely want to know about the company and the person who will interview them. By researching the interviewer and their company, you’ll show you’ve done your homework, which will make a great impression during the interview.

Begin your research by reading through the company’s website, checking out their LinkedIn page, and doing further research on Google and social media. Once you find out the name of the person interviewing you, look for details like where they went to college or organizations they’re involved with. Who knows, you might discover you have something in common with the interviewer.

Be Friendly and Polite

Secret #2: Be friendly to the receptionist.

Unless you’re doing a video interview, the first person you’ll likely meet face-to-face is the receptionist.

When you arrive to your job interview, be friendly and polite. It’s also a good idea to engage in small talk with the receptionist. You never know if the hiring manager will talk to the receptionist after your interview, so making these gestures will help you make a positive first impression.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

Secret #3: Be aware of their surroundings.

After you’ve arrived to the location of your interview, pay very close attention to your surroundings.

Look for details such as the setup of the office, how employees interact with each other, and what the hiring manager’s office looks like. The way the office is designed and how people interact will give you a better idea of how to present yourself during the job interview.

Be Approachable

Secret #4: Be approachable.

When you enter your interview, you want to give the impression that you’re a person the hiring manager will enjoy working with.

Greet the interviewer with a handshake, smile, and make eye contact. It’s also a good idea to make a subtle compliment about the interviewer’s office or engage them in conversation. This will show the interviewer that you’re interested in learning about them and their company.

Be Helpful

Secret #5: Be helpful.

Likeable job candidates are also helpful individuals. They want to show the employer that they genuinely care about the success of the company they hope to work for.

To illustrate your helpfulness during the job interview, talk about an experience or accomplishment where you had to help a coworker or go above and beyond your responsibilities. You can also talk about times where you volunteered or gave back to your community. These qualities will show the interviewer that you’re a well-rounded and compassionate job candidate.

The most important thing you can do during a job interview is to be yourself. By being kind and considerate, you’ll surely impress the interviewer and show them that you’ll be a very likeable person to work with.