{"id":8486,"date":"2018-12-12T07:47:42","date_gmt":"2018-12-12T12:47:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/?p=8486"},"modified":"2024-07-05T13:02:52","modified_gmt":"2024-07-05T17:02:52","slug":"how-science-predicts-a-bad-or-good-first-impression-in-an-executive-job-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/how-science-predicts-a-bad-or-good-first-impression-in-an-executive-job-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"How Science Predicts a Bad or Good First Impression in an Executive Job Interview"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"executive

How to Ace Your First Impression in Executive Job Interviews<\/h1>\n

First impressions are tricky things . . . and especially critical in executive job interviews<\/a>.<\/p>\n

We always want to nail a first impression but, sometimes, it seems more like an art than a science. However, research shows that there are<\/em>\u00a0scientific principles that contribute to how we judge others\u2014and how we, ourselves, are judged.<\/p>\n

The key to getting it right is to understand the aspects of neuroscience that impact first impressions in the first place.<\/p>\n

According to Karla Starr in a Psychology Today<\/a> article, the two relevant parts of the brain are the amygdala, which gathers feedback from all your sensory organs, and the posterior cingular complex (PCC), which assesses risk and evaluates choices.<\/p>\n

The amygdala and PCC work together to help us compute first impressions when we meet someone new.<\/p>\n

Researchers at New York University noted in the article:<\/p>\n

\u201cThese regions sort information on the basis of its personal and subjective importance and summarize it into an ultimate score, a first impression.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When you\u2019re looking to wow during a job interview<\/a>, you need to get it right the first time. Here\u2019s how to understand these puzzle pieces and put them together in just the right way.<\/p>\n

Ready to ace your first impression? Keep reading.<\/p>\n

Get Ready to Make the Best First Impression in Your Executive Job Interview<\/span><\/h2>\n

Look the Part from Head to Toe<\/strong><\/h3>\n

We gather a lot of information about people based on how they appear.<\/p>\n

Smelly, dirty, and torn clothing? That\u2019s risky. Those descriptors set off alarm bells. Neat, tidy, and appropriately dressed? That\u2019s always a baseline for a good first impression, no matter what situation you find yourself in. For a job interview<\/a>, though, it\u2019s a must.<\/p>\n

Nothing that you wear needs to be expensive or trendy, but it should be clean and fit you well. Your clothing, shoes, accessories, and outerwear should also be suitable for the sort of interview you\u2019re on.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been told you\u2019ll be touring a large office or spending a portion of the day outside, for example, you need to wear comfortable shoes or weather-appropriate apparel.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re interviewing for a job<\/a> at a more conservative workplace (or you\u2019re unsure of the environment or the specifics of the dress code), opt for a cautious approach to clothing and grooming. That might mean covering up large tattoos, taking out piercings, dying your hair a natural color, or removing unusual nail polish.<\/p>\n

Once you receive a job offer or start work, you can get a lay of the land and see how your preferred style fits in with your new colleagues.<\/p>\n

Brainstorm Your Answers to Interview Questions<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Practice makes perfect\u2014except, during an interview, when practice can make you a little too<\/em> perfect. Most interviewers want to feel like they\u2019re talking to a person they can happily work with every day, not an always-on automaton. Trust us: You want to avoid the \u201crobot taking over the world\u201d trope.<\/p>\n

But how should you do that and still<\/em> be prepared?<\/p>\n

Instead of drilling your answers, take a more informal approach. Sit down with a notebook and a list of common interview questions<\/a>. Then, brainstorm some possible answers.<\/p>\n

Come up with examples for open-ended questions like:<\/p>\n