Victim of First Impression

G U R U S

September 10, 2023

We all at some point have been victims of first impressions during job interviews. As a job seeker, you never get a second chance to make a great first impression; always try to do your best to stand out among the many other applicants. An interviewer will form an imprint of you, your charisma, and your disposition – an impression that is practically ineradicable. All this is done within the first 10-60 seconds of the interview.

Below are points that can help you make a good first impression during a job interview:

Tardiness: Many candidates come late for the interview which has a very negative impact on your ability to respect time, to meet deadlines, and to organize. Always try to do an interview 15 to 20 minutes earlier.
Surfing the Internet: I have seen many candidates arrive at an interview and find them already surfing the Internet. It shows that the candidates were impatient. It is good that candidates take time to read over the job discretion or advertisement
Weak handshake. A weak handshake with interviewers shows a lack of confidence. If you have to opportunity to do a handshake, make sure you give a firm handshake looking in the eyes of the interviewer.
Sitting and Swinging in the interview chair: Maintain an upright posture in the interview
Appearance: Not putting any effort into appearance will ruin your chances. Dress professionally and neatly for the interview.
Smiling: Lighting up your smile during the interview is a great way to boost confidence
Movement of your hands: Using your hands to dominate the interview appears brash, overconfident, or dominating. Instead, get control of your hands and listen to the interviewers.
Take care of your personal hygiene: Make sure you take care of your personal hygiene. Get rid of the bad mouth odor and body odor. I have seen interviewers deny many candidates who fail some of these sample test

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Jonah Soe Kotee is a Liberian human resources and employment-law professional with more than 20 years of experience in human resource management, employment relations and workforce development in Liberia and internationally. He holds an LLM in Employment Law from the University of Leicester and a Master’s degree in Strategic Human Resource Management from the University of Roehampton in the United Kingdom. He is also a Certified Global Talent Management Professional (GTML) and has undertaken professional training in Strategic HR through Cornell University. Jonah is the Chief Executive Officer of Gurus HR Consultancy Group, a Liberia-based human resources advisory firm providing recruitment, HR consulting, payroll, HR outsourcing, Employer of Record solutions, training, compensation and benefits, and employment-law advisory services. He also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer in Human Resources at AME University, where he contributes to the development of graduate-level HR professionals. Jonah has a particular professional interest in Liberia’s labour and employment framework, human capital development, workplace compliance, compensation, employment relations and the future of work in Liberia. Through his professional work and public commentary, he advocates for a labour market that protects workers while enabling responsible employers to grow, invest and create sustainable employment opportunities. His perspective is informed by practical HR experience as well as academic training in employment law and strategic human resource management. About this article: This article represents the author’s professional perspective on issues that should be considered in discussions surrounding the modernization and reform of Liberia’s labour and employment framework. It is intended to encourage informed dialogue among employers, workers, HR professionals, policymakers, trade unions, legal practitioners and other stakeholders.