Making a good first impression

If you’ve been asked to wait for your interviewers, it’s a good idea to remain standing so you are on the front foot when you are making introductions (and not struggling out of your seat).

Greet your interviewers with a firm (but not knuckle breaking) handshake and a smile. They will form an impression of you within seconds of meeting you, so make the first moment count.

Make eye contact with the people you are meeting and use open body language. You might be nervous, but do your best to keep your hands (relatively) still, and make sure you don’t cross your arms.

To avoid distraction, try not to have any paperwork in front of you. It’s a good idea to have a copy of your CV and any other relevant documentation on hand, but keep it in a folder out of the way and keep the table in front of you clear.

Even if you don’t intend to, interview nerves may cause you to fidget with papers or to have your eyes on the paper instead of looking at your interviewers. It is also imperative that you turn your phone off!