| It is an oft quoted statement that "First Impressions | | | | to the interview site as time or security at the building |
| Count". So are it with job interviews and the job | | | | site allows. |
| seeking process? First impressions are created in the | | | | It stands to reason and indeed to common sense that |
| first few seconds of any personal interaction. Once | | | | if you are to obtain the employment sought at your |
| created a first impression can be most difficult if not | | | | employer or organization of preference you want to |
| impossible to shake off. On top of that you never who | | | | demonstrate in action that you have a number of key |
| can be of help to you or hinder you in the job seeking | | | | traits - among them timeliness, organization attention to |
| process. What can you do to work to create and | | | | detail as well as respect for the owners, managers or |
| sustain a good first impression? | | | | any authority figures at your potential new place of |
| First of all know where you are going. Nothing is worse | | | | employment. Simply and honestly it shows in action |
| than arriving late off the hop. Too early can also be a | | | | what type of a person and employee you will be to |
| bad choice - but the issue usually centers on late | | | | the firm and whether you will be a positive asset to |
| arrivals of job applicants not early. On top of that if | | | | the organization. Present yourself as that. |
| you are a keener and really want the job - is that a | | | | By arriving late you are firstly demonstrating a lack of |
| bad thing to demonstrate? | | | | respect for the whole interview process at that firm or |
| Plan to arrive early at the job interview appointment. | | | | organization. On top of that can and will demonstrate |
| Parkinson's Law is that whatever can go wrong will go | | | | your lack of planning, attention to detail thoroughness |
| wrong. Plan for time, you may miss the bus or | | | | and follow thought. You will appear rushed and |
| subway; a train may stop you on the road ete etc. | | | | disorganized. No doubt because you will feel rushed, |
| Sure with a cell phone you can phone ahead and | | | | harried and most likely disorganized by the time you |
| inform the interviewer or your delay and delays. Better | | | | arrive at the interview late. |
| to leave early and arrive early or at the worst on time. | | | | In summary: first impressions count when it comes to |
| If you know where the building is where the interview | | | | interviews and the interview process as a whole. |
| will be conducted good. If not either locate the building | | | | Once first impressions are created they are very |
| on Goggle, MSN or Yahoo maps. Print this out along | | | | difficult if not impossible to remove or erase. You are |
| with the list of directions. It never hurts to carry a | | | | hopefully on your way to the interview to obtain a job |
| paper map as well. Where is the bus stop? Where is | | | | offer and a positive offer of employment. If you arrive |
| parking if you are driving? If the parking lot is full where | | | | late you will be presenting very poor first impression. |
| is a second parking lot? Indeed some job applicants | | | | Do everything you can to arrive on time for your |
| have even been known to make a dry run to as close | | | | chosen interview if not somewhat early. |