As the saying goes, “You only have one chance to make a good first impression”. I can’t stress enough how true that statement is. In the business world, it can shape your career and influence your success. At this stage in my career, I’ve experienced this from both sides of the desk. I remember when I was going after my first “official” job after college; how important it was to have a great resume that was professional, yet stood out from the rest. I was told to own at least one great suit to wear for job interviews, the importance of a firm handshake and making good eye contact with your interviewer. In other words, I had to make a great first impression.
As I progressed in my career, I was exposed to working with outside vendors and suppliers. It was my job to negotiate with and select the people my employer would do business with. I don’t know if this is petty – some people would probably say “Dan…get over it”, but to this day I still remember the vendors who I thought were unfair or inflexible with their policies and/or business practices and I refuse to do business with them for as long as I’m in the position to do so. It all came down to a bad impression they (the people representing the company) gave me when first introduced, or at some other point during our dealings.
Now that I’ve ventured out on my own, I hope that I never have to submit a resume or application for employment for another employer ever again. But that doesn’t mean I’m not still going through the interview process every day of my life. Every person I meet, no matter the occasion, could eventually turn into a new client for my business, or in some capacity, influence someone else’s decision to work with me.
My advice for those of you looking for employment, or running your own business, take a good look at the first impression you’re giving to others. Get someone you know to give you an honest opinion – would THEY hire you if you walked into their office looking for a job? Business owners – Does your website give a good first impression? Does the receptionist you have answering your phone and greeting your customers give the best impression of you and your business?
Don’t ever take things for granted – you usually only get one shot at an opportunity, so make the most of it!
Posted by dansteiner 
