The phrase, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression," has never been more true for those going through the job interview process. A recent Accountemps survey revealed that it takes 16 minutes on average for today's executives to determine whether a candidate may be a good match for a position.
Applicants must be able to present a summary of their qualifications in a concise, enthusiastic and poised manner, or they may lose their relatively short window of opportunity. During the initial minutes of an interview, managers will be assessing whether an individual should move to the next step in the hiring process, which may include additional interviews and skills tests as well as a formal reference check.
The survey results underscore the importance of thorough preparation in advance of each interview. Job seekers should be ready to answer questions that are likely to come up during meetings with hiring managers, such as, 'Tell me a little about yourself,' 'Why are you planning to leave your current position?' and 'What types of projects did you handle at your last job?'" Appearing well-groomed, polished and professional is also an important factor in making that first impression a positive and lasting one.
Article courtesy of Accountemps, which has more than 240 offices in North America, Europe and Australia, and offers online job search services.
