Job search: The First Impressions You Make

By: Together Abroad 28-12-2016 3:53 PM
Categories: * Search tips,
The chance of a successful interview is often decided during the first impression and lastsfor about 10 seconds. This also appliesto the CV and the cover letter. The first impression is often all it takes for an employer to continue with or drop a candidate’s application.Basically, a candidate can have three first impressions that can increase or diminish the chances of landing the job.

The CV

The first impression for a CV doesnot always last ten seconds. A CV can already be rejected before the document is fully opened. Yes, this is harsh and may sound even unfair. However, when confronted with tens of CVs, the first impression becomes an important factor. For me, CVs with poor layout end up at the rejection pile without much further ado. Especially, when the personal details take up almost half a page to make the resume look more extensive.

The first of the ten seconds lasts longer when the personal details are distilled to the necessities: name, phone number, LinkedIn and or personal website. (Address can be mentioned elsewhere in the footer of the document, for example.)I like reading a personal description, but I find it more important to see relevant job descriptions. A career history without a proper description of the tasks will be the second reason for me to move the CV onto the rejection pile.

The Cover Letter

I tend to start with screening CVs before moving to the cover letters. Spelling mistakes are best avoided, encountering spelling mistakes in the first sentence makes it challenging for me to continue reading. Still, it does not necessarily mean I will stop reading the very instant I come across one. After all, making mistakes is part of life.

What prevents me from reading is a lack of motivation. As a reader I need to understand why a candidate is suitable, and just because someone has done similar work does not count as motivation. I also like to understand why someone is applying to a particular company. When applying for a function at Microsoft it should show in the letter why the candidate is interested in Microsoft. When that is left out, the same letter could have been sent to Apple instead.

Since I have already seen the CV, reading a summary of it in the cover letter is a turndown. Summing up experiences does not mean one qualifies for the new job, it only shows one is familiar with the sort of job. Being a shop assistant at Zara is different from being a shop assistant at Zeeman.

The Interview

The first impression starts the moment you step into the building. Make sure to be on time. It is not necessary to be an hour early, but prevent yourself from rushing in due to delays or unforeseen obstacles.I find the first impression with a candidate can be negatively influenced by the style of introduction. A clammy handshake, a bone crushing one, or a handshake that leaves me mystified whether or not I actually shook a hand are all turndowns. Avoiding eye contact is not a good thing either, and it gives me the impression of disinterest, or worse, that I am not important enough in the conversation to be involved in it. After all, eye contact during a conversation involves the listener.

This all can be caused by stress, and that is normal. Most of the time the candidate is not even aware of it. A way to tackle this is to practise an interview with two others,one who will interview and one who will observe. I often hear the objection that such a play will not match a real interview,yet I can tell you from experience that this is not true. I have seen people becoming really annoyed at me for asking – according to them – stupid obvious questions. Rehearsing an interview only works when the people you are going to practise with are serious about helping you, and they are willing to play the annoying interviewer by asking in-depth questions. All it takes is to prepare well.


Thus, the first impression that a CV or cover letter or an interviewhas will differ from one recruiter to another, and meeting their personal preferences and avoiding their dislikes isnot always possible. Doing some thorough research of what is often considered as a turndown will help prevent you from receiving an immediate rejection.

Cecile Koster
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