Job Interview Tips: How to Make an Excellent First Impression
You want to shine during job interviews yet may succumb to stress. Nerves and lack of self-presentation know-how can dull your chances of getting a job. Here’s how to make an excellent first impression and not let your nerves get the better of you.
Do helpful groundwork
Preparation will boost your confidence and impress your interviewer, so be a detective. Discover all you can about the business you want to work for and note the company’s history. Check media reports and online for information.
Useful facts include mission statements, company origins, and recent developments. The data gathered will provide fodder for questions to ask and help you recognize how your presence in the business will be valuable.

Next, type a report showing ways you can help the company, including making improvements. Mention how your skills and experience mean you can ace job requirements and will be an asset.
The interviewer will ask you why you think you’ll be a valuable employee or prompt you to talk about where you see yourself in five years. They might also want you to state how much pay you think you’re worth. With your report handy, these questions will be a cinch to answer.
Present yourself well
Pay attention to detail. Dress well, making sure you look professional and well-groomed. Clean shoes and a neat haircut are a must. Also, avoid heavy aftershave or perfume, and don’t wear too much jewelry. How you present yourself matters because it reflects your attitude.
Body language is vital, so think about what you want it to say about you. You’ll make an excellent impression if you walk tall, smile, and greet your interviewer with a firm handshake. Act like you’re confident even if you’re not, and your confidence will grow. Avoid clock-watching, fiddling with your clothes and hair, and other actions that highlight nervousness during the interview.
Reduce your nerves
Fear and excitement are natural responses when you attend a job interview. A little nervous energy ensures you aren’t too laid-back. But too many negative thoughts of failure inhibit your ability to excel.
When you expect worst-case scenarios, your anxiety grows, but you can make your thoughts work for you. Positive visualization will help you overcome interview jitters.
Carry out a visualization exercise
Practice visualization several times a day and when you are anxious. See your interview run smoothly. Picture yourself as confident and happy, and your interviewer responding positively. Make the images colorful and bright. You’ll build positive emotions that help you associate interviews with feeling good.

Carry out positive visualization in the mornings and evenings a few days before your job interview. On the big day, go through a visualization exercise if nerves rise. Do the same while you’re in the waiting room or sitting in your car just before the interview.
You’ll make a great impression during job interviews if you dress, move, and act like a professional. Heed these tips, and you will impress anyone who evaluates you, and they’ll see you as an exceptional candidate.
| to shine | ragyogni, kiemelkedni, brillírozni |
| to succumb | engedni, megadni magát (pl. félelemnek, nyomásnak) |
| nerve | ideg |
| lack of self-presentation | az önbemutatás hiánya |
| dull | unalmas, fakó, tompa |
| to boost one’s confidence | növelni az önbizalmát |
| to discover | felfedezni, rájönni valamire |
| mission statement | küldetésnyilatkozat, célmeghatározás |
| development | fejlődés, fejlesztés |
| to gather | összegyűjteni, összeszedni |
| to provide | biztosítani, nyújtani, szolgáltatni |
| fodder | itt: nyersanyag, alapanyag |
| valuable | értékes |
| to make improvements | fejlesztéseket eszközölni, javítani |
| job requirements | munkaköri elvárások |
| asset | értékes tulajdonság, előny |
| to prompt somebody to talk | valakit szóra bírni |
| handy | hasznos, praktikus, kéznél lévő |
| cinch | gyerekjáték, könnyű dolog |
| well-groomed | ápolt, gondozott (megjelenésű) |
| attitude | hozzáállás, attitűd |
| confident | magabiztos, önbizalommal teli |
| to avoid | kerülni, elkerülni |
| clock-watching | az óra nézegetése |
| fiddling | piszkálódás, babrálás (tárgyakkal való ideges foglalkozás) |
| to highlight nervousness | felhívni a figyelmet az idegeskedésre, hangsúlyozni az idegességet |
| to reduce | csökkenteni |
| the nerves’ natural responses | az idegek természetes reakciói |
| to ensure | biztosítani, gondoskodni (valamiről) |
| laid-back | laza, könnyed, nyugodt |
| thoughts of failure | kudarctól való félelem gondolatai |
| to inhibit | gátolni, visszafogni |
| worst-case scenario | a legrosszabb eset |
| anxiety | szorongás, aggodalom |
| jitter | idegesség, remegés, lámpaláz |
| to run smoothly | gördülékenyen, zökkenőmentesen működni |
| to associate with | társítani valamihez |
| if nerves rise | amikor az idegesség fokozódik |