“Never hire anyone who is going to report directly to you who you do not intuitively just plain like from first impressions.”
– Fred Charette
Project a Professional Image
Did you know?
First impressions make a big difference. A firm handshake, a sincere smile and well-pressed attire help students project a more professional image. These seemingly insignificant details may be enough to get an internship or land a really good job. As you encourage your students to build their professional networks, you will want to remind them to dress and act professionally if they want to make the “right” connections. This activity focuses on what Guy Kawasaki has to say about a good first impression.
Try this…
- Ask them…
What do you notice about a person when you first meet him/her?
How does someone make a good first impression on you?
What do you do to make a good first impression on others?
- View video.
- Distribute the Student Activity, review and complete (now available as an electronic, fillable pdf allowing students to download, complete and return to you via email).
- Compare students’ advice and recommendations.
- Review and discuss interview attire slide show from New York Times.
Add an Experience!
Since an increasing number of interviews now take place via phone or Skype have students read these tips to put their best voice forward. To put their best self forward in this Internet age, they could also benefit from monitoring their online image.