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For Interviews, Appearance and Attitude Are Crucial

One snowy morning several years ago, Alan De Back was filling in for the receptionist. The usual greeter, who had a long commute, was running late. Just then a job candidate arrived.

“Without even saying ‘hello’ or ‘good morning,’ he barked, ‘Get Mr. XYZ for me. Where’s the coffee?’ ” He obviously thought that I was the lowly receptionist, and didn’t know that I was actually a manager,” said De Back, who now heads a search firm in Burke, Alan De Back Learning & Communications.

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The brusque behavior made De Back wonder how the applicant would treat administrative staff on a regular basis. That means this job seeker made a bad first impression — a common error among those who are so focused on impressing the interviewer that they forget to show others respect and to project a winning attitude from the start.

Seemingly small details at the outset of an interview can help or hurt as much, if not more, than the time spent discussing the job itself. A genuine smile, confident gait and firm handshake, experts say, are among the qualities that can set up the interview course for success.

Job candidates should realize that an interview actually begins before the formal sit-down exchange. “In large companies, the interviewer will often greet the job seeker in the lobby of the building and escort them back to their office,” said Anna Colton, senior director of technology recruiting at HireStrategy, a staffing firm in Reston.

“This could take a few seconds, or up to several minutes — and even longer if elevators are involved. What happens during this ‘pre-interview’ period can be as critical as the interview itself. The last thing that anyone wants is uncomfortably dead silence.”

If the interviewer doesn’t readily engage in small talk, the job seeker can pursue a light conversation. Consider commenting on the tasteful office decor or fantastic view. Remember to maintain an upbeat tone, Colton advised. That means no complaining about the bad weather, the traffic you endured on the way to the interview or the difficult time you had parking.

Should the interviewer ask about traffic or a delayed flight, a candidate can respond truthfully, yet “find something positive in a negative situation,” Colton said. She suggested a reply along these lines: “Well, I did have an unexpected three-hour layover at the airport, but the good thing was I got caught up on all my e-mails while I was waiting in the terminal.”

Bob Fulcher, 54, an association executive who lives in Annandale and recently accepted a job with the Endocrine Society, said the first few minutes stood out each time he interviewed. “Interviewers decide really quickly whether you’re in the ballpark,” he said.

“I was given an opportunity to say something early on, and that’s where I had my 60-second elevator speech ready,” he said of his qualifications summary. “I found it was a good idea to have it memorized, but I also wrote notes to myself. Like any other talk that you give, you’ve got to practice it until it doesn’t sound like you’re just a robot repeating words.”

Making a good first impression starts with displaying enthusiasm and encouraging nonverbal cues, said Marshall Brown, founder of a Washington career and executive coaching firm that bears his name. “You want to show a powerful handshake, one that’s confident,” he said.

For those with sweaty palms, Brown suggests carrying a handkerchief in a suit pocket, sticking your hand inside and wiping it surreptitiously, right before extending it to the interviewer.

Avoid using a lot of perfume or cologne, he said. “Some people might be sensitive to it, and it could be overpowering.”

Many interviewers unconsciously use the interview to confirm their initial hunch, whether negative or positive.

“You may be an extremely well-qualified candidate, but if you make a poor first impression, your chances of getting the job are diminished greatly,” said De Back, the Burke search firm director. “Many job seekers lament at how ‘unfair’ this is, but it’s simply human nature.”

To align the stars in your favor, carefully prepare your interview outfit ahead of time. Get a conservative haircut, steering clear of spiked hair or a Mohawk. “I’ve had clients who wanted to keep extreme hair or piercings because they felt as if it was their personal expression of who they were. That just doesn’t cut it with most employers,” De Back said.

“This all sounds like common sense,” he added, “but common sense seems to fly out the window for many people when faced with an interview situation.”