Make a Dynamic First Impression During Your Job Interview

Making a great first impression when you walk in for a job interview is critical. Your interviewer is already forming their opinion of you from the moment you walk through the door–and how you present yourself will have a substantial impact on whether or not you’re hired. If you want to make a dynamic first impression at your next job interview, these tips will help.

Practice what you want to say. Be prepared for some of the questions that are most likely to be asked in an interview and take the time to practice your answers to them. This will help increase your confidence, which means that you’ll portray yourself as a more capable candidate. It will also allow you to prepare the answers you know employers are looking for.

Customize your portfolio. Take a minute to look through your portfolio before you go in for an interview. Bring the projects that are the most relevant to the position or company you’re applying for to the front. Whether you’re an engineer with a portfolio full of blueprints or a construction worker with specialized skills, make sure you’re showing off the skills your future employer wants to see the most.

Dress to impress. Show up in clothing that is appropriate and professional. Common advice is to show up in an outfit one step more formal than what you’ll be wearing every day, but if you don’t have more formal attire, your daily job attire will suffice. Some tips to keep in mind:

Try not to choose a new outfit that you’ve worn for the first time for your interview. You need to know how your clothing will look after a car ride and sitting waiting.
Sit down in your outfit and check it again. Slump, which you’ll likely do at some point during the interview whether you mean to or not. Check to make sure that you’re not showing too much cleavage or having trouble with button gaps.
Choose practical shoes. You never know when you’ll walk straight out of the interview room for a tour of the office or, worse, a tour of a job site. The last thing you want is to hold up a tour because your shoes don’t fit right or they’re pinching your toes!

Show up at the right time. It’s not just about showing up on time for your interview. It’s also about not showing up too early: interviewers would prefer that you show up within five to ten minutes of your interview time instead of coming through the door when they’re in the middle of taking care of another task.

Go in with a positive attitude. Be positive about the job, yourself, and your previous place of employment. Interviewers want to see candidates who know their strengths, know that they’re a good fit for the job, and are eager to dive in. It’s okay if your nerves show–everyone gets a little nervous before an interview–but if you go in with a positive attitude, it will help smooth over a lot of awkward moments.

Check yourself before you go in. Take the time to visit the restroom and wash and dry your hands. Make sure you have a firm, assured handshake. If you must wear perfume or cologne, keep it minimal: you have no idea what allergies or personal preferences you might face during your interview. Dispose of your trash, whether it’s the paper cup from coffee or a last-minute snack, before you go in. These last-minute details might not matter in the big scheme of things, but they can make a big difference in your first impression!

Your interview starts in the lobby. No, the receptionist isn’t the hiring manager, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t want to give them a great impression. In fact, some hiring managers will ask the receptionist how candidates behaved! Be polite, keep your phone in your pocket and turned to silent where it belongs, and be attentive to what’s going on around you. These simple steps can have a big impact on the image you present to your interviewer.

When you walk through the door for a job interview, you want to present yourself in the best light possible. These simple steps can make a big difference in the way the interviewer sees you–and that makes it much more likely that you’ll get the job you’re dreaming of.

Michael DeSafey is a leading executive recruiter for professionals in the construction, engineering and environmental industries. He is currently the President of Webuild Staffing www.webuildstaffing.com . To learn more about Michael or to follow his blog please visit www.michaeldesafey.com

Using Body Language as a Business Leader

As a business leader, you have to develop plenty of skills. Leadership means wearing many different hats and accomplishing many different tasks over the course of the day. One of the most important skills you’ll learn, however, is how to use your body language in order to impact the attitude and motivation of your employees.

Contagious Attitude: The Power of a Smile

When you’re stuck in the middle of a stressful day, the last thing you want to do is paste a smile on your face and pretend that everything is going well. This simple action, however, can make a big difference, not just for you, but for your employees, as well. When you smile, your employees will be more likely to smile back at you.

The simple action lowers stress hormones and releases hormones into the reward centers of the brain, thereby making your entire team feel better about the stressful day you’re having. Not only that, when you smile, you’ll increase your own satisfaction, which makes it more likely that you’ll remember to do things like complementing the employees who have gone above and beyond for you during this difficult time.

Keep Your Head Straight

Confidence is one thing; being cocky is something else entirely. When you’re in a meeting or listening to someone else speak, make an effort to keep your head straight. Tilting it to the side gives an impression of cockiness, which is not the impression you want to convey.

Use the Right Tone

Your tone of voice has a huge impact on how people perceive you. You can say all the right words, but if your voice doesn’t hit the right level, your employees aren’t going to respond to it the way you want. A confident leader typically displays several key characteristics in their speech:

A lower pitched voice
Sentences that are carried confidently through to completion rather than dropping off at the end
Dynamic inflection
Clear articulation

Control Movement to Attract Attention

When you want the eyes of the employees you’re managing to be on you, move to attract their attention before you speak. You’ll find that people are naturally drawn to movement, which means that shifting your position by just a step or two is enough to make sure that there are more eyes on you. Ceasing movement helps to underscore the point that you’re making once they’re looking at you–not to mention making you appear more decisive.

Reduce the Appearance of Tension

When you are calm, relaxed, and confident, you’re more likely to inspire the same emotions in everyone around you. By reducing the appearance of tension, you can substantially change the attitude of the room. After all, you believe in your employees and their ability to accomplish the goal in front of them–that means they can believe in themselves, too. A few simple exercises can help you learn to relax the natural tension in your face, neck, and shoulders, changing the image you present to everyone around you.

Pay Attention to Employees

If you want to increase the odds that people will participate in a discussion, share their problems with you, or give their best to projects that you’ve assigned, the best tactic is to ensure that they know you care about their participation–that is, to look like you’re listening. Don’t multitask during meetings or when an employee is talking to you. Instead of talking over them, take the time to listen to everything they have to say before formulating your response. These simple steps can make a big difference in how you are perceived by your employees.

Learning to use body language to your advantage is a great way to make more out of every interaction you have with the employees who work with you. By practicing a few simple controls, you can change the way they perceive you, shape your workplace culture, and better motivate every employee throughout the business.

How to Effectively Prepare for a Video Interview

In a digital era where the world revolves around technology than ever before, more businesses are leveraging videos in their recruiting and hiring process to save time and increase productivity. Whether it’s in the construction, engineering, or environmental industry, video interviews is a winning move for companies and interviewees alike as each are able to determine whether the choice is a good fit efficiently.

Yet, just because it’s a video interview doesn’t make it less nerve wrecking or easier on your part. Preparation is vital in order to land the job of your dream particularly if this video interview is the gateway. Ensuring you’re ready in advanced positions you to win so you’re confident in your delivery and make an amazing impression with your potential employer.

Here are 5 effective tips on how to prepare for a video interview.

#1 Practice Makes Perfect!

Just as you would for an in-person interview, it’s important to go over likely questions that will be asked so you respond with conviction and belief. You see, the more you go over your answers, the poised and certain you’ll be during the interview. You’ll clearly highlight your skills and knowledge in a way that’s concise yet still showcases your expertise for the job. You also won’t fumble over your words nor get too long-winded in your response.

So we can agree that practice makes perfect. Spend the time going over common interview questions and your answers so you’re adequately prepared. Say them aloud as if you’re speaking directly to the interviewer. Review your resume to fluently share your experiences that relate to the position.

Finally, research the company and their goals. Understand their mission and the capacity in which they serve their clients. When doing so, you’ll identify how you can fit into their vision and communicate this during the video interview.

#2 Check Your Background

The surrounding area behind you can either add to your video interview or become a distraction. Be mindful of what’s behind you so it doesn’t detract or interfere with your answers. Here are a few guidelines to making sure you’re setting up your background for success:

Refrain from going to a coffee shop where it can get noisy during peak hours
Let your household know that you’re doing an interview and it’s imperative that they’re quiet and in another room. Try not to have people walking behind you in the video interview
An office setting is perfect or the kitchen. Be sure that it’s nice and neat in the background
If you opt for the desk in the bedroom, make it tidy with the bed made, clothes off the floor, etc.
Have adequate lighting by putting a light behind your computer so your face is illuminated. Avoid dark areas that could make it difficult to see your or casts shadows on your face

#3 Have Good Posture and Poise

Great posture emanates confidence and enthusiasm for the subject matter. Practice keeping your spine straight with your shoulders slightly pulled back for an upright posture. This position also helps your breathing which is a key factor in relieving any nervousness experienced during the video interview.

Another tip to bolstering your posture and poise is talking with your hands, however, don’t overdo it. Use them as a tool to help release any nervous energy or show your interest while answering a question.

#4 Perform a Test Run

From Skype to Google Hangouts, GoToWebinar and Zoom, there are several options employers can choose as their video technology for the interview. It’s important to test the software in advance to ensure its working properly.

For example, some applications may need to be downloaded prior to the interview if you don’t already have them installed on your computer. Avoid waiting until the day of to discover if your device is equipped or not. Know the software that will be used and perform a test run 1-2 days before the interview so you’re ready!

If possible, test it with a friend on the software that you’ll be using. Get their feedback on the lighting, surrounding background and your posture.

#5 Be Yourself!

People are seeking authenticity and transparency in an age where communication is often conveyed through technology. Allow the interviewer to experience your true personality, showing how you’ll be a real asset to the team. Don’t be afraid to exude passion and zeal for the position you’re after. Be yourself…that’s what they’re looking for!

When talking, be sure to look directly into the camera. This is equivalent to making eye contact in-person which reveals confidence and character.

Conclusion

Preparing for a video interview does not have to be a daunting task. By implementing these tips, you will create an environment for success to boost your interview performance and land you the job you desire in the construction, engineering, or environmental industry.

Make a Dynamic First Impression During Your Job Interview

Make a Dynamic First Impression During Your Job Interview

Using Body Language as a Business Leader

Using Body Language as a Business Leader

How to Effectively Prepare for a Video Interview

How to Effectively Prepare for a Video Interview

About

Quick Links

Contact