Heather Eagar.com

You’ve heard the saying, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” The same applies to your job search. The only difference is that you almost have two ‘first impressions’ to make. Let me explain.

Most likely your first impression on a company is your resume package. This is assuming you didn’t cold call a company first. The employer looks at your resume and cover letter and forms an immediate opinion of you. Is it a fair assessment? Well, that’s up to you, isn’t it? That’s why your resume package is vital in your job search. If you don’t represent your best-self, then the employer isn’t going to see it.

The second ‘first impression’ is the interview. This could be a phone interview or a face-to-face meeting. Do you come across as someone the employer would want to hire? Or do you give off a vibe that is aggressive or an ‘I’m better than you’ attitude? Do you lack confidence when asked touch questions? Were you early or late? Everything you do when you are in contact with that company has an effect on whether you get to the next level of the interview process.

In your job search, you must take note of first impressions. It’s nearly impossible to get the bad ones out of the employers’ minds. So before sending out your resume, make sure it has a WOW factor that knocks them off their feet. You need to get in the door so they can meet the ‘real’ you.