The First 15 Seconds Mastering Interview Impressions - Your Career Intel

The First 15 Seconds Mastering Interview Impressions - Your Career IntelWhat does acting have to do with a job bewerbungsgesprch? In both cases, your success can hinge on how you enter the scene the first impression you make when you walk on stage, or in the case of your job search, when you meet the interview team. In my previous career as an on-camera spokesperson and actress for over 10 years, we rehearsed everything, including our scene entrances. This same approach applies to your interviews. Preparation matters.Consider these first impression statistics within seconds of meeting you, a person will judge if youre trustworthy, charismatic, adventurous, or leadership material, among many other traits. Heres how to set yourself up for success in those first 15 seconds, and beyondStart Preparing at Least One Week in AdvanceOne of the biggest complaints I hear from hiring managers is that the candidate didnt seem that enthusiastic about the position. I get it youre concerned about answering the next question, and it can be hard to express enthusiasm while doing that. But if you prepare beforehand, youll be calm, confident and ready to shine.To make a winning first impression, master these essentials in advance.Do your research. Before I approach a candidate about an opportunity, I do my homework on them, learning about their education, their skillset and what sets them apart. When it comes to a job interview, you need to follow a similar research approach. What is the companys culture like? How big are they? Who might you report to? Who might be on your team? Has the company done any major transactions recently? While youll learn mora about these specifics during the interview, having a general idea about potential coworkers, supervisors and company culture helps you highlight the right parts of your backgroundPrepare smart questions. Doing this research will help you confidently ask the right questions during your interview. Prepare several specific question s in advance that highlight your research. For example, I saw the company just completed an acquisition will that impact this role or department? demonstrates youve done more than simply read the about us description on the company website.Know what youre wearing. Dont scramble at the last minute looking for clean clothes that are ironed, well put together and fit appropriately. I keep several outfits prepared just for business meetings so I can always grab a fresh shirt at a moments notice, and a similar approach can be helpful if youre in the midst of multiple interview rounds. Make sure your shoes are scuff free, your nails are clean and your jewelry is minimal. The last thing you want to do is panic the morning of your interview.Know where youre going. Google map the address ahead of time and save the directions in your phone. Allow plenty of extra time to arrive. If your schedule allows, I recommend arriving 30 minutes early and stopping at a nearby coffee shop to review your n otes and collect your thoughts. Then, head into the office 10 minutes prior to your scheduled interview time.The First 15 Seconds Interview ChecklistYouve done your homework and feel prepared for your interview. Now, lets make this count heres how to handle the first 15 seconds when you walk in.Turn your phone off. Few things sink an interview like a poorly timed phone call. Dont let that happen to you turn your phone off (not just on silent), put it away, and forget about it until youre outside the building.Maintain good posture. This should happen from the moment you walk into the building. Assume everyone will be paying attention to you, from the receptionist to potential coworkers and supervisors who casually pass the waiting area.Offer a strong handshake. Deliver a world-class handshake Go in at a 90-degree angle with your elbow and lower arm, reach halfway, and meet the pressure of the other person. A handshake says so much about how you feel being there and how you feel abou t the person youre shaking with, so practice yours to ensure its strong. Dont linger, either straight up and down, two shakes will do it.Look them in the eye. Make a connection, person to person. Its a big moment, that first time meeting someone. Slow down. Enunciate your full name. When they introduce themselves, repeat their name while saying how nice it is to meet them.Dont sit until everyone else has. Even if your feet are killing you, wait for the interviewer to sit and tell you where to sit. You dont want to accidentally steal the seat of, say, the CEO of the company.Whats your biggest concern before a big interview? Share your first impression questions in the comments below.

Women Are Spilling How Much is in Their Savings Accounts in This Revealing Twitter Thread

Women Are Spilling How Much is in Their Savings Accounts in This Revealing Twitter Thread Earlier this week, media coverage of Alexandra Ocasio-Cortezs savings account made large waves on the internet. NBC suggested she only had $7,000 dollars in savings, as though that amount of money in an account is abnormal for people Ocasio-Cortezs age.However, as millennials on Twitter pointed out, thats probably more savings than the average bear has in their accounts.Sad, but true. Millennials (people born between 1981 and 1998, in this study) have an average of $24,190 put away in both bank accounts and investment accounts. However, the median is only $2,430.To prove a point, cxcope made a thread asking Millennials how much they have in their savings accounts.Source TwitterSource TwitterAnd youd be shocked how open people were about their accounts. Tzu siche were a gemisch of responses, from people with no savings to people with a few thousand and encouraging words for people struggling.Sour ce TwitterSource TwitterSource TwitterSource TwitterSource TwitterSource TwitterSource TwitterSource TwitterMoney can be tough to talk about.But ultimately, we should be sharing with our peers (and our congresspeople) what our financial lives look like. Its a great way to assess societal needs to ensure equality and beat traditional structures that keep people from financial health, such as gender inequality, racism, and classism. Oh yeah, and uh, the astronomically high cost of higher education that plunges most young people into piles of debt. Plus, its a good way to learn healthy habits from each other, check our privilege if were in a financially-well point of our lives, and find solidarity and ask for help if were not.More on millennials and money--Una Dabiero is an editorial associate at Fairygodboss. She likes pop culture, reading things that make her think, and hearing womens stories. Dont follow her on social media (please), but do follow her on the FGBcommunity.