230 Part IV: Putting the Body into Social and Business Context
Making the First Impression: The Interview .............................................
I know, I know, you’ve heard it a hundred times or more, and here it is again:
You never have a second chance to make a first impression. Make a good one
and you’re on a winner. Make a poor one and you’re going to struggle long
and hard to be invited back.Going for an interview involves being on show. People begin making evalua-
tions from the moment they first see you. From top to toe, how you groom,
dress, and accessorise yourself sends out signals about who you are and the
message you want to convey. Add to those ingredients your body language,
your manners, and your demeanour, and in less than seven seconds the
impression you make is set. Although you may appeal to some, others may
be less than impressed.Getting yourself ready for a successful interview requires preparation and
practice. In order to go in feeling good about yourself, and in control, follow
the suggestions below:Warming up. Remind yourself of the purpose of the interview, what you
want to achieve, and how you want to be perceived. Before entering the
building, concentrate on breathing from your abdomen. Practise some
vocal warm-ups – humming and quietly repeating the phrase, ‘The tip of
the tongue, the lips, and the teeth’. These exercises help to release the
throat, connect with your voice, and clarify your speech. Raising and
lowering your shoulders, letting your head roll from side to side, and
shaking your hands and fingers out before entering the building, prepare
you mentally, vocally, and physically.Claiming your space.Wherever you are, make that space yours. Own it.
Remind yourself that you wouldn’t be there if you didn’t have the right
to be. You want to send out the message that you’re ready and waiting.
Follow these tips:- Relieve yourself of unnecessary clutter. Carry only what you need.
- Enter the reception area with confidence and greet the receptionist
with a smile and a polite word. Give your name and say whom
you’ve come to see. Remove your coat and ask the receptionist to
store it, if possible. - Move away from the receptionist’s area and in spite of the invita-
tion to ‘take a seat’, remain standing. Chairs make you look small
and can be awkward to get out of. If you’re feeling uncomfortable,
stand with one hand placed in the other behind your back, or allow
your hands to rest, one in the other in front of you at waist height,
while taking in your surroundings.