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First impressions are everything, and it takes just three seconds to make a brilliant one. Here are a few hot tips to help you make a great first impression in a flash! There is one way to boost your chances, and that’s by honing your interview skills. Leading recruiters advise how interviewees could raise their game.

“Walk in the door with a good attitude,” said Allison Hemming, Chief Executive of The Hired Guns in Manhattan. “The object of the first interview is to get to the second interview.”

So, what should you do? Express your interest in the job and the company, and indicate that you’d like to continue the conversation. Be prepared to map your coursework, case studies and papers you have written to the requirements for the job. According to Emily Levine from the Career Group, “Show up five to ten minutes early,” She also recommended bringing multiple paper copies of your resume to show “you’re interested in the opportunity.” And, she advised, don’t bring any food products such as coffee, and avoid checking your digital devices. “Turn your phone off and leave it off, even if your interviewer takes a call or steps out of the office for a second,” Ms. Levine said.

Katy Spriano, Recruitment Director at Winter Wyman, said “being respectful in your interactions with the recruiter could go a long way”. She suggested crafting a one-minute pitch about yourself. The trick was to help recruiters see why you’re a fit, she said. So, when you get a job description, “create a write-up that says why you are right for the job.”

Rachel Bitte, Chief People Officer of social recruiting platform Jobvite, said “enthusiasm for the job was the number one reason hiring managers chose one candidate over another. “ Ms. Bitte recommended researching the company thoroughly. “News articles, press releases, and company pages on sites like LinkedIn and Glassdoor are all good sources,” she said. Making a list of thoughtful questions also goes a long way; “It shows that you’re invested,” she said. Also, if you’re not sure if you should apply for a job because you don’t meet all of the qualifications, “Don’t let [that] scare you off,” Ms. Hemming said.”

You may need to spruce up your resume to land that all-important interview. Make sure you have addressed the relevant criteria for the job. Hard skills (teachable, technical abilities) will get you in the door for a job interview, but according to Jaime Klein, Founder and President of Inspire Human Resources, the soft skills (character traits and interpersonal skills that characterize a person’s relationships with other people) also help differentiate you from other candidates — and help you succeed at the office.

Do your research and make sure you have the appropriate hard skills for your industry. If you find that you’re missing a few, find a free or low-cost online or college course to help you get up to speed, suggests Dan Schawbel, Research Director at Future Workplace.

You can find out more about these types of interview writing skills from our workshops. Check our website here: https://www.ywcasaskatoon.com/employment-learning/program-information/

This article was based on an online piece by Virginia Backaitis, of the New York Post. The full article can be found here: www.news.com.au/finance/work/careers/how-to-nail-a-job-interview-and-get-hired/news-story/592988d3c85b616494950cbe03beaa4d