- New survey reveals what we notice about another person when meeting them for the first time
- 35% of us notice facial expressions first, whereas 27% examine how we dress
- Body language was the third most popular choice, with tone of voice bringing in 10% of the vote
- William May’s new guide tells you how to create a strong first impression for your dream job interview
Research conducted by vintage watch specialists William May has revealed some interesting insights into the psychology of first impressions, and how we judge other people upon meeting them.
The survey showed that more than one in three (35%) first spot another person’s facial expressions, whereas 27% of people said it was the way they are dressed.
Body language came in a close third with 26.7% of the vote, and a person’s tone of voice came in last with 10% of people selecting this feature.The research revealed a certain generational gap between our first judgments. More than one in three of those aged 18 to 24 selected dress sense as their top factor, whereas facial expressions was the most highly rated for all participants over the age of 35.
How to make a great first impression and land your dream job
With studies showing that it can take as little as one tenth of a second for someone to make a judgment about you, first impressions are vitally important!
So if you’ve got an important interview approaching, William May has put together an Ultimate Guide to Making a Killer First Impression, covering everything you need to know. Here you’ll discover how to blow your interviewer away with tips to help you every step of the way, from shaking their hand and your tone of voice, to your body language and what to wear.
Here’s a few taster points from the guide to consider…
Facial expressions
For a job interview there are a few impressions you definitely want to make: alert, interested, confident, and friendly. And there are those to avoid: bored, anxious, and nervous. Pay attention to your facial expressions, as they could betray how you really feel, as psychologist Portia Hickey of Communication Labs explains:
“Whilst there are basic behaviours that help us make a good impression (e.g. smiling and steady eye-contact), there is a lot more to first impressions. Our brain is bombarded with so much information all the time that shortcuts in our thinking are required. This means that subtle things such as how frequently we smile will cue people’s brains to stereotype us and make certain assumptions about us. So it is important to know what type of impression you want to make so that you are sending the right signals to the other person’s brain.”
Don’t forget the final touches
We use our clothes and accessories to show the world who we are as individuals, so dressing the right way for an interview should be high on your priority list. But don’t forget the finishing touches to your outfit.
Those who have a tendency to over-accessorise can often be trying to apologise for something, or to divert attention away from themselves. Nick Withington, Managing Director of William May, believes your accessory of choice shouldn’t be overlooked:
“For many people, one of the first accessories they will notice will be your watch - as you will often shake hands with the person you are meeting! It’s important to convey a strong first impression with your watch - it isn’t something to be ignored! Be sure to wear an adult style, and nothing made of rubber unless you’re heading out on a run. Keep it professional, clean and neat and you’ll leave them with only good thoughts.”