12 ways to impress a hiring manager

• Arrive ten minutes early

Arriving late can make a big impact on someone’s first impression of you. There are always situations where we can run late such as being stuck in traffic or because of public transport cancellations. But sometimes the interviewer will not be open to hearing about what went wrong. Be prepared and be on time. Being punctual makes a good impression because it shows that you respect their time.

• Bring an extra copy of your resume

It’s good manners to keep an extra copy of your resume for interviews. This is helpful for the hiring manager to reference throughout the process. Some hiring managers will have a copy of your resume themselves, however, to have one shows you’re willing to help make their lives easier.

• Dress neatly and suitably – as you would on your first day on the job

Being well presented also makes a good impression. You should have a good idea of what the company culture is from your research of them and this will help you understand the appropriate attire. Make sure your clothes are ironed and clean. In general, be neat, try not to make your clothing stand out to the point of being a distraction.

• Use their name and make eye contact

Using a person’s name can go a long way. Just as much as making eye contact when you speak with someone. These small gestures show respect and intellect as well as making you more likeable.

• Be aware of your body language

Going on from the last point, be very aware of your body language. Make sure you are displaying positive body language. Avoid crossing your arms, as this can seem as if you are uncomfortable or hiding something. Stand and then sit straight and tall, smile, nod to show interest, make a reasonable amount of eye contact, use your hands when you talk and reply and avoid nervous habits such as tapping your leg or fidgeting with your hands.

• Be polite to the receptionist

Always be polite to the receptionist. In fact, be polite to anyone you encounter when you enter the office. It’s been reported that quite a few hiring managers enquire about a candidate’s behaviour before the interview. It’s important for hiring managers to know that you play nice with people and are a general pleasure to be around.

• Be open to small talk

Don’t shy away from small talk. Sometimes it can seem like it’s just filling an otherwise awkward silence but in fact, you are building rapport. It can also help you feel more comfortable with that person when it comes to answering actual interview questions which will lead you to answer questions better.

• Be confident and enthusiastic

Remember that out of all the resumes that landed on that hiring managers desk, you were one of the chosen ones. Show a sense of confidence, you are talented, and you have the experience for the job. You have to keep in mind, you are also scoping out whether this company is the right fit for you. On top of being confident, show enthusiasm. Be passionate about not only what you do, but what you can do within the given company.

• Demonstrate what you know about the company by highlighting what you like about them

Another way to show enthusiasm is to outline why you are interested in working for that company and what about them specifically appeals to you. This is not just a good way to show that you’ve researched. It is also impressive to a hiring manager if they can see you have a genuine interest in the greater good.

• Be prepared for common questions

You don’t want to get stuck on questions that are commonplace in an interview. Peoplebank has a whole page of common interview questions that you can peruse and prepare with here. It’s appealing for a hiring manager to know you have prepared and given the interview some thought.

• Tell a story

When answering questions, try to word your answer into short stories and anecdotes. These kinds of responses leave more of an impact than generic responses. Especially if you have an interesting story or two.

• Ask questions

Have you ever been in an interview when the hiring manager asks, ‘so, do you have any questions for us?’ and then there is an awkward, ‘uh, no’? The reason the no is awkward is because we know we should be asking questions. Sometimes our nerves can get the best of us and we just want the interview to end. But it’s so important to ask questions. Not only to impress, but also to find out things you should know before deciding if the job is right for you.  Here are some questions you could ask in your next interview.