First Impressions in the Workplace

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Abstract There have been a significant number of studies explaining the effects of first impressions, and while there is some variance in the theories one thing remains consistent, it doesn’t take long to leave a lasting impression – whether meeting a new friend, interviewing for a new job, or you are simply reading the introduction to this paper you only get one chance at making a first impression, and it’s likely to have an impact on the relationships formed thereafter. First Impressions in the Workplace As a species we are built to recognize and analyze the characteristics of others, often based on the perceptions of what we see and how a person acts - this is accomplished within the first few moments after we meet someone and is known as a first impression. Communicate success Whether an introvert or an extrovert, the way we dress, the way we speak and even our body language communicates volumes about us. During an interview, employers only know what they have read about you in your resume, while the rest, is learned through your appearance and language skills during a first impression. If jeans are worn to an interview where company culture is that of a shirt and tie, you might be seen, as someone who is unprepared or just doesn’t care about their appearance, and the immediate judgment may be that you are someone who is not competent for the job, or are simply not trustworthy. Using a similar example, careful selection of the words we use is just as important to creating a lasting positive impression, for example, if we say “I don’t know” or “I think” during an interview on a performance evaluation, a manager may be led to think that you do not possess the confidence or ability to successfully complete tasks associated with your existing job, or a new one. How Do First Impressions Strike Us?

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