30 seconds is all it takes
It takes only 30 seconds for people to judge us on the first meeting, whether it be in an interview, on a first date or entering a new group of friends.
Every day we are judged by everyone who sees us, but what is important is the impression you give people that first few seconds when you meet.
We get judged on our clothes, our hairstyle, our body language and the first few words that we speak to a person we are meeting for the first time.
Often, these first judgements, our gut feeling, can be very accurate, but sometimes we completely misjudge the person and could potentially lose out on having that person as a great friend or hard working employee.
I have tattoos, and even though it is becoming more acceptable in society to have them, people still judge. Even other people with tattoos will judge me based on whether they think their tattoos are better than mine.
So how do we create the best first impression we can for people to want to get to know more about us. I think it is a combination of confidence, communication and intelligence.
Going into an interview for the job of your dreams, of course you are going to be super nervous, but it is important to over come that and not let your nerves show. You want to show your possible future employer that your are capable to take on the responsibilities of the job.
Eye contact, a knowledge of what the job expects of you and the correct body language can be the key to getting that dream job.
The same applies for social situations as well. I for one an a shy person socially, but when it comes to doing my job, the shyness falls away for a moment.
In social situations, it is important to have a balance between too shy and too outgoing. You don’t want to come across as a snob because you are too shy to speak.
When I was in school, one of the girls in my social circle, who later became one of my best friends, told me she thought I was stuck up because I never really spoke much, when in reality, I was just very shy.
It is important, in any situation, to be interesting and interested. You need to be able to hold a good conversation as well as be interested and give replies to what the person you are meeting is saying. There is nothing worse than someone who gives one word answers.
In those first 30 seconds, you need to show the person who you are and why you are worth talking to, and with all of us trying to make our way in this world, you need to stand out in your own unique way.
