The Impact of First Impressions in Job Interviews

Landing a job interview is a big step! You’ve put in the effort, shared your experience, and now you have a chance to show who you are. But did you know that a big part of how the interview goes depends on the very first moments?

It’s true. People often make up their minds about others incredibly quickly – in just seconds, sometimes even faster. This isn’t usually a careful, thought-out process. It’s more of a rapid feeling or judgment based on what they see and hear right away. In a job interview, this quick judgment can set the tone for the whole conversation and really affect whether you get the job.

This quick first look at someone helps us figure out things like if we can trust them, if they seem capable, and if we like them. It’s like a mental shortcut our brain takes. Because it happens so fast, it can sometimes lead to unfair judgments.

So, let’s break down what makes a good first impression and how you can make sure yours helps you, not hurts you, in your next job interview.

What Goes Into That First Quick Look?

When you first meet the interviewer, they’re picking up on many things, both how you speak and how you act without words.

Things You Say (and How You Say Them):

Your greeting: How you say hello, using their name correctly, and your tone of voice set the stage. Knowing their name ahead of time helps.
Your voice: Sounding friendly, clear, and steady usually shows you’re confident and interested. A shaky or flat voice might suggest nervousness or a lack of interest.
Your words: Using clear, simple language without too many “ums” or “likes” and speaking properly shows you’re professional and communicate well. Even simple small talk at the beginning matters for connecting with the interviewer.

Things You Do (Without Speaking):

Being on time: This is a must. Getting there 10-15 minutes early shows you respect their time and are organized. Getting there too early can be awkward, though.
How you look: Your clothes and how neat you are give immediate clues about your professionalism and how serious you are about the job. Dress nicely, thinking about the company’s usual style. Make sure you’re clean and tidy.
Your handshake: If you’re meeting in person, a firm, friendly handshake with eye contact shows confidence. (Remember, some cultures and places now might prefer a nod or wave).
How you stand or sit: Standing and sitting up straight with your shoulders back makes you look confident and interested. Slouching can make you seem lazy or not interested.
Eye contact: Looking the interviewer in the eye shows you’re confident, listening, and honest. Try to look at them around half to two-thirds of the time, looking away naturally now and then. Be aware that in some cultures, lots of direct eye contact can feel uncomfortable.
Your face: A real smile is a strong tool. It shows you’re warm and friendly. Nodding shows you’re listening. Even tiny changes in your face can show how you feel.
Your hands and body movements: Natural, open hand movements can help you explain things and show you’re open. Fidgeting (like tapping or playing with your hair) or keeping your arms crossed can make you look nervous, closed off, or not interested. It’s often good to keep your hands where they can be seen.
Your online presence: Today, the first impression often starts online. Recruiters might check your LinkedIn or other social media. Make sure your online profiles look professional or are set to private.

It’s clear that how you carry yourself and the signals you send without words in the first few moments can be even more important than the first things you actually say. These non-verbal things are seen and understood instantly, and they create a filter for everything else the interviewer hears from you.

Why Your Brain Makes Quick Judgments

Our brains are wired to make quick decisions, which helps us in many situations. But in an interview, these quick judgments can lead to mistakes because of how our brains process information.

Here are a few ways our brain’s shortcuts can affect interviews:

What comes first sticks: The very first things the interviewer sees or hears (like how you look, your handshake, your first words) stick in their mind and strongly color how they see everything else you say later. This is why the beginning is so important.
Looking for proof: Once someone forms an idea about you (good or bad), they tend to look for and notice things that prove their first idea is right, and might ignore things that don’t fit. If they like you right away, they might focus on your strengths. If not, they might look for weaknesses.
The “Good Guy” Effect: If you have one good quality that stands out (like being well-spoken or going to a well-known school), the interviewer might assume you have other good qualities too, even if they haven’t seen proof of them yet.
The “Bad Guy” Effect: The opposite is also true. One negative thing (like being a little late or seeming nervous) can make the interviewer think you have other negative qualities you don’t actually have.
Blaming the person, not the situation: Sometimes interviewers might see a candidate act a certain way (like looking nervous) and think “they are a nervous person” instead of thinking “this is a stressful situation, that’s why they look nervous.”
Making assumptions based on groups: People might unfairly judge a candidate based on ideas they have about groups they belong to (like age, gender, etc.), instead of seeing them as an individual person.
Liking people like us: Interviewers might automatically feel more positively towards candidates who seem similar to them in background, interests, or how they talk.

These mental shortcuts don’t usually work alone; they often team up. A strong first impression can start a chain reaction where the interviewer’s initial feeling leads them to look for specific things, which then proves their first feeling right.

Interestingly, research suggests that the very first thing people often judge is whether you can be trusted and if you seem warm and friendly, even before they judge if you’re smart or capable. This makes sense from an old survival standpoint – figure out if someone is a friend or not first. So, showing you are sincere and a good person early on might be even more crucial than showing off your skills right away. Once trust is there, your skills are seen in a better light.

How First Impressions Affect Getting the Job

Your first impression isn’t just a fleeting thought for the interviewer; it really shapes how the rest of the interview goes and the final hiring decision.

Many studies show that a good first impression is strongly linked to getting high interview scores, being called back for more interviews, and getting the job offer. Some reports suggest interviewers often decide within the first few minutes.

And it’s not just in their head. The interviewer’s first impression changes how they act during the interview! If they have a good feeling about you, they might be friendlier, spend more time talking about how great the job and company are, and ask easier questions. If they have a negative feeling, they might seem less interested or ask harder questions to try and confirm their doubt. This can create a situation where the interviewer’s initial idea causes the candidate to act in a way that makes that idea come true.

Once a first impression is set, it’s hard to change. If you make a negative one, it might take several positive interactions later on to fix it.

It’s important to note that being good at making a strong first impression (sometimes called “impression management”) helps a lot in getting a good interview score, but it doesn’t always mean you’ll be the best person for the job itself. This shows that interviews, especially when they rely too much on first impressions, might be better at finding people good at interviewing than finding people who will do the job well in the long run.

Making Your First Impression a Great One

While interviewers should try not to let quick judgments bias them, you as a candidate can do a lot to make a strong, positive first impression. It all comes down to preparing carefully and being mindful during the interview.

Getting Ready Before the Interview:

Preparation is key to starting strong.

Know the company and job: Don’t just look at the main website. Really dig in and learn about what the company does, what they care about, their recent news, and who works there (especially the interviewer, if you can find them on LinkedIn). Read the job description closely so you know exactly what they need and how your skills fit.
Think about and practice your answers: Think about common questions they might ask (about you, why you want the job, or about how you handled situations before). Prepare specific examples using a method like STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Say your answers out loud. Practice interviews with friends or coaches can be super helpful. Think of real things you’ve done that show your skills.
Plan the details: If it’s in person, know exactly how to get there and how long it will take. Aim to get there 10-15 minutes early. For online interviews, test your computer, camera, sound, and internet connection ahead of time.
Pick your outfit and materials: Choose clothes that are professional, clean, and right for the company’s style. Get them ready beforehand. Bring copies of your resume, a nice folder for papers, a notepad, and a pen.
Think of questions to ask: Have some good questions ready about the job, the team, the company’s culture, or future plans. Asking smart questions shows you’re truly interested.
Check your online look: Look at your social media (like LinkedIn) to make sure it looks professional, or make sure privacy settings are tight.

Making it Happen During the Interview:

This is where your preparation pays off.

Be aware of how you’re acting: Pay attention to your posture, eye contact, handshake (if in person), face (smile!), and hand movements throughout the whole interview.
Show you’re listening and interested: Pay attention when the interviewer talks. Don’t interrupt. Ask for more details if you’re unsure about a question. Showing you’re focused is important.
Build a connection: Start with some natural small talk. Try to find something you have in common. Make sure you seem trustworthy and friendly, not just skilled. Be polite and respectful to everyone you meet at the company.
Speak clearly and positively: Talk clearly at a good speed and volume. Sound excited and confident. Talk about your experiences in a good way, focusing on what you achieved and learned. Never complain about old jobs or bosses. Be honest.
Be flexible: Pay attention to how people act in the company and adjust your style to fit in, based on the culture and industry.
Handle nerves: It’s normal to be nervous! Take deep breaths. Remember that being prepared helps a lot with feeling more confident.

Making a good first impression involves many small things working together. One great handshake won’t fix bad posture later, just like smart answers won’t make up for avoiding eye contact. The interviewer is watching and listening all the time.

Remember, all that preparation you did helps you feel more confident. And feeling confident helps you do all those non-verbal things that make a strong first impression – standing tall, making eye contact, and speaking clearly.

Things to Avoid That Can Hurt Your First Impression

Just like some things help, others can quickly create a bad impression. Knowing what these are helps you avoid them.

Common Mistakes With How You Act:

These often happen when people are nervous or just not thinking about it:

Poor posture: Slouching or looking too stiff can make you seem not interested, lazy, or not confident.
Bad eye contact: Not looking at the interviewer can suggest you’re not honest, not confident, or not interested. Staring too much can be uncomfortable.
Bad handshake: A weak handshake can signal you’re not confident, while one that’s too strong can seem aggressive.
Fidgeting: Playing with things, tapping, or moving around a lot can show you’re nervous, bored, or even not telling the truth.
Closed off body: Crossing your arms can look like you’re defensive or not open. Hiding your hands might make you seem nervous or less trustworthy.
No expression: A blank or frowning face, or not smiling, can be seen as you being uninterested or negative.

Mistakes With What You Say or Do:

Being late: Showing up late without a very good reason and letting them know right away is a big mistake. It shows you’re not organized and don’t respect their time.
Wrong clothes or not being neat: Wearing clothes that are too casual or not tidy shows you’re not serious or professional. Using too much perfume or cologne can also be a problem.
Not being prepared: Not knowing about the company or job, not being able to answer questions well, or not having any questions for them shows you didn’t put in the effort.
Bad talking habits: Interrupting, talking too much, giving short or rambling answers, using too many filler words, or bad grammar makes you seem unprofessional and not a good communicator.
Being negative: Talking badly about old jobs, bosses, or coworkers is very unprofessional and raises red flags.
Phone distractions: Your phone going off or checking messages during the interview is very disrespectful.
Being rude: Being impolite to anyone (even the person at the front desk), acting arrogant, chewing gum, or putting your bag or coffee cup on the interview table creates a bad feeling.
Acting too casual: Being overly friendly or using bad humor can cross professional lines.

Many of the non-verbal things that hurt first impressions (like fidgeting or a shaky voice) are often just signs of being nervous. But interviewers might unfairly see these as signs of a bad personality or lack of skill, which can hurt good candidates who just get nervous in interviews.

Also, not preparing well isn’t just about not knowing answers. It can cause many other problems: wearing the wrong clothes because you didn’t check the company style, not having questions because you didn’t research, and being extra nervous which leads to negative non-verbal actions. Lack of preparation signals you don’t care and often causes other mistakes because you feel unsure.

Does Where You Are (Culture, Industry) Change Things?

Yes! What makes a good first impression isn’t the same everywhere. It changes a lot depending on the culture and the type of job or company.

Cultural Differences:

Ways of acting in interviews differ across the globe:

Greetings: A firm handshake is common in many Western places, but a softer one might be preferred in parts of Asia. Bowing is normal in Japan or China. Physical contact like hugs might happen in other cultures.
Eye Contact: Looking directly in the eye is good in Western cultures to show honesty and confidence. But in many Asian, African, or Latin American cultures, avoiding long eye contact, especially with someone older or in charge, shows respect.
Formal vs. Casual: Some cultures or companies are very formal (wear suits, use titles like Mr./Ms.), while others are more relaxed.
Talking Style: Some cultures are very direct and say exactly what they mean, while others talk in a more indirect, subtle way. Silence can mean different things too – thinking in Asia, but maybe awkwardness in the West.
Talking About Yourself: In places like the US, it’s expected to talk about your achievements and sell yourself. In other cultures, it might be better to be more modest.

Differences in Jobs and Companies:

Expectations also vary depending on the type of work:

Dress: Banking or law jobs usually mean suits. Tech or creative jobs might be okay with business casual or even more relaxed clothes. Always research the specific company. When in doubt, dress a little more formally.
What they focus on: Finance jobs might check your research and math skills. Tech jobs might focus on solving technical problems, and how you present might be less important than your skills for some technical roles. Creative jobs often involve showing your portfolio. Sales jobs look at how well you communicate and connect with people.

Because there are so many differences, following “standard” interview advice without thinking about the specific culture or industry might not work well. You might accidentally do something that’s seen as rude or strange in that setting. The best approach is to research the specific place and adjust how you act to fit in.

Also, when companies look for “cultural fit,” they sometimes rely too much on that first quick feeling or how someone’s style matches the interviewer’s. This can unfairly shut out talented people from different backgrounds who just communicate or act differently, even if they would be great at the job.

Can You Fix a Bad Start?

Okay, so maybe you didn’t start the interview perfectly. Can you turn it around?

It’s tough, because those first impressions stick and our brains look for things to confirm them. It might take a lot of positive moments later on to fix a negative first feeling. But it’s not impossible.

Things You Can Do During the Interview:

Acknowledge and move on: If you made a clear mistake (like being late or tripping), say sorry briefly and sincerely, then quickly move past it. Don’t keep talking about it or make lots of excuses. If it’s a small thing, a little bit of humor about yourself might help.
Get back on track: The most important thing is to stop focusing on the mistake and put all your energy into giving great answers, showing your skills, and looking interested. Don’t try too hard to make up for the mistake, it can look fake.
Stay positive and calm: Don’t get upset, defensive, or negative. Showing you can handle a stumble gracefully actually looks good to employers.
Show you’re aware: Sometimes, admitting you messed up in a mature way shows good character. You could even ask to rephrase something if you think you explained it poorly.
Find common ground: Connecting with the interviewer over shared interests can sometimes make them see you more positively overall.
Be consistent: From the moment you try to recover, make sure everything else you say and do is consistently positive and professional.
Finish strong: The end of the interview is your last chance to make a good lasting impression. Give a confident summary of why you’re a good fit and repeat that you’re very interested. Thank them sincerely. You could even ask if they have any concerns about you that you could address.

Things You Can Do After the Interview:

Send a thank-you note: A quick, personal thank-you email or note within a day shows you’re professional and still interested. You can also use it to briefly clear up anything that might have been unclear or quickly mention a key strength again.
Let your references help: If your references are contacted and speak highly of your skills and character, it might help balance out any doubt from a shaky start in the interview.

It’s true that fixing a bad first impression is hard, especially if the mistake was big or the interviewer is very set in their ways. If it doesn’t work out, try to see it as a chance to learn for next time.

The goal isn’t really to erase the bad impression, but to show so much positive information after the mistake that it changes how the interviewer sees you overall. By doing well after a stumble, you’re writing a new, better story about your interview performance.

While the start is important, what happens at the end of the interview matters too because it’s fresh in the interviewer’s mind. Finishing strong can sometimes help balance out a weaker start. That’s why you need to keep your energy and professionalism high until the very end.

Putting It All Together: Tips for Your Next Interview

To make sure you make a great first impression and do well in your interview, follow these steps:

Prepare deeply: Go way beyond the basics. Learn all you can about the company, the job, and ideally, the interviewer. Practice your answers until you feel confident and ready. Think of smart questions to ask. Plan all the details – how you’ll get there (or get online), your clothes, and what you need to bring. Clean up your online profiles.
Be aware during the interview: Pay close attention to how you’re holding yourself, your face, and your hands. Make good eye contact. Give a confident handshake if appropriate. Show you’re actively listening.
Connect with people: Use the first few minutes to build a friendly connection. Be polite and nice to everyone you meet at the company.
Speak clearly and stay positive: Make sure your answers are easy to understand and focus on the good things. Don’t badmouth anyone. Be honest.
Adjust to the situation: Pay attention to the culture of the company and the industry, and adapt your communication style and how formal you are to fit in.
Manage those nerves: Everyone gets nervous! Prepare well – it’s the best way to feel more confident and keep those nervous habits in check.
Follow up smart: Send a personalized thank-you note quickly. Don’t keep contacting them too much after that unless they give you a timeline.

Making a good impression isn’t just one thing you do at the start; it’s about being prepared and mindful throughout the whole process, from getting ready, to the interview itself, to following up afterward. If you skip any part, it can make your overall impression weaker.

Beyond just doing specific things, the most important thing you can do is understand yourself. Know how you tend to act, especially when you’re stressed. Knowing your own habits helps you control them and adjust how you present yourself to different interview situations. This helps you go beyond general tips and truly connect with the interviewer.

Yes, first impressions are very powerful in job interviews. They happen fast, are based on quick judgments, and can be unfair because of how our brains work. They really do affect interview results.

But this doesn’t mean you have no control! By preparing well and being mindful of how you act and communicate (both with words and without), you can greatly increase your chances of making a great first impression. And while interviewers need to be aware of their own biases, you can do your part to show them the best version of yourself from the moment you meet. Knowing about the power of first impressions helps both you as the job seeker and the interviewer have a better, fairer conversation.