They say that impressions are formed in the first 7 seconds of meeting with someone, and whilst I think this is a little harsh it is certainly worth considering.  I have had many experiences of meeting with talented and impressive job seekers who have fallen down initially due to poor presentation and whilst we will work beyond this to make sure we provide a great service, not everyone will be as forgiving.

On the other side of this – a study a number of years ago found that there is a direct link between appearance and emotional states and this TED talk by Amy Cuddy talks a lot about body language relating to confidence. With this in mind I have come to one conclusion:

Looking well for an interview is essential.

• There are three things to consider here. Firstly, physical presentation is important and not just to the employer. Dress your best and allow this to give you additional confidence on the day.
• Secondly, get some advice. We meet and prepare job seekers for interview all the time and when you feel you have been well prepared you will be more relaxed and communicate more freely.
• Finally, know what you want. Draw conclusions about the role from your research and the information shared during the interview to allow you communicate your level of interest based on your understand of what is on offer.

If you want the best career and interview advice available, come and meet with us on the 23^rd October for our Legal Secretarial Open day.

To help you feel even better, everyone who attends the open day will receive a free lush goodie bag!

To attend our Open Day you can book an appointment here

Why first impressions are hard to shake was written by Laurenda Smyth, laurenda@amicus.ie 01 531 2424