Making a Good Impression in 30 Seconds

How to make a great impression.


When you are looking for a new job, meeting with new clients or just trying to make new social contacts, making a great first impression is important. The problem is that sometimes it's easy to get caught up in nervousness and lose sight of the important things. Believe it or not, we make decisions about people within the first 30 seconds of meeting them. After that, all other information is used to support the initial decision.


In Malcom Gladwell's book, "Blink", he conducted several studies that clearly demonstrate how we make decisions about people and things in the blink of an eye. You can use this information to make sure that you make the best mini-impression you can.


So, how can you make your first 30 seconds count? Here are 3 steps to making a good impression:


Get their attention - You don't have to do something outrageous to get attention. Just make sure that you engage the listener by asking a question or introducing yourself. In an interview, you can capture the hiring manager's attention by shaking hands and giving a quick but confident introduction.


Have a clear message - Before meeting someone, take some time to think about what message you want to convey. Ask yourself how you can deliver that message quickly and make sure that it's understood.


Focus on what makes you different - Especially in a business setting, you have to be able to show why you are different. If you are interviewing for a job, most of the applicants will have skills similar to yours. Instead of focusing on those skills, demonstrate your value by focusing on what makes you stand out. Ask yourself what you offer that makes you a better choice than someone else?


Don't let yourself get lost in the shuffle by not standing out. Combine these three steps to make sure that your first 30 seconds count.


What do you think about first impressions? Please share your thoughts in the comments.


By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for LogisticsJobsiteBlog and Nexxt, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.