Come to Keene!

It is a beautiful morning in Keene, NH. I heard the birds outside my window as I was waking up, the air is light and warm, and the early-season blooms are vibrant in the sunshine. It’s the kind of morning that makes me want to sit on the front porch with my coffee and then stroll downtown.

It is also the kind of morning, however, that hints at the heat and humidity in the forecast. I can feel it coming. There will be thunderstorms this afternoon, which means that midday will be hot…and sticky. It will be the type of day when I am grateful for my air-conditioned office, and I will avoid going out at lunch. Why can’t it stay just like it is right now? This is perfect.

Today’s first impression is beautiful, couldn’t be better. But, Mother Nature is going to ruin it for me. I wish that I could tell her to stop right here. I wish that I could show her how much I like what we have going on this morning. She wouldn’t listen, but at least I can hope that the light sunshine will return tomorrow morning.

This is not the case when a candidate ruins a good first impression. The initial interactions are exactly what we are looking for, making us feel that we have found “The One.” And, then at some point in the process, it all falls apart. There is very little that can be done at this point to recover, so let’s discuss how to keep the positive momentum going.

• Be yourself from the beginning. Don’t try to be bubbly or serious or funny if you aren’t. Unless you are Robin Williams, it is only a matter of time before you won’t be able to maintain that persona any longer, at which point you will appear phony. It is much better (and easier) if you show your true self throughout the process.
• Treat each interview like the first interview. You will likely meet with a number of people who will all contribute to the hiring decision, so you will want to give each person the same positive impression. Even if you are meeting with the same person several times, each interaction will affect the final decision.  Be prepared, be on time, and be confident.
• Stay in touch but take it easy. I want to know that you are still interested and answer any questions that have come up since the last time we spoke. But, just like today’s sunshine, don’t come on too strong. And, remember that most office phones have caller id, so I can see that you called eight times while I was at lunch.
• If you are still interested, stay curious. Each position, company and department will have multiple facets that cannot be discussed in one meeting. This leaves plenty of room for follow-up questions. Many candidates will ask several thoughtful questions initially (great first impression) but then leave the conversation up to me once we progress further into the interviewing process. This can lead a recruiter or hiring manager to feel that you are no longer invested. Think of questions that show you want to know more about the company, the industry, the local area, or the lunchroom.
• If you are not interested, let me know. This position may not be what you expected from the job description. You may have felt that you would not work well with the hiring manager. If I think that you are a good candidate, I will want to find the right place for you. This is much more likely if you are honest about your feelings and expectations during the process rather than rejecting the offer after I have jumped through hoops to present it to you.

The first impression, just like the start of the day, sets the tone. You work hard to be sure that you are positive and prepared and confident for the initial meeting; keep the momentum going!