New job | 5 things recruiters judge candidates on in a first interview

The first few minutes of a job interview are key when the candidate meets with a prospective employer or recruiter.

This gives the interviewer the chance to assess the candidates body language, dress code and how they would handle professional situations as a potential employee, so it’s important to really nail the first 15 minutes of an interview.

A hiring manager or recruiter will use this time to determine whether the candidate is a team player and how they are able to interact with potential co-workers. To ensure candidates head into an interview feeling confident and prepared, Recruitment Grapevine has compiled a list of tips to remember from a CNBC article:

Sounding too arrogant

Of course, you want to enter an interview feeling confident, however, it’s important to remember to not come across as overly arrogant to the recruiter or hiring manager. This will immediately trigger alarm bells and will result in you potentially losing a second interview or being offered the role. Instead, showcase what great ideas you have and how you have implemented them in the past, but remain humble and don’t take all the credit.

Sharing too much personal information

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The hiring manager isn’t interested about the Netflix series you watched last night, so refrain from divulging too much information about your personal life during your first 15 minutes. Remain professional and focused on the role you have applied for throughout the interview and keep the personal details at home.

How you’re dressed

First impressions count for everything, so it is important to dress smart even if the employer has stated that they promote a casual dress code. You want the employer to remember you, so dress to impress.

Making negative comments

During your first interview, it’s advised to not highlight the negative aspects of your previous employer or colleagues. For example, a CareerBuilder survey previously discovered that 62% of employers are less likely to promote employees who have a pessimistic outlook.

Not being present

Coming across as if you are distracted is a big ‘no-no’ to recruiters. Don’t let the hiring manager or recruiter see a phone in your hand before they come out to greet you and steer clear of checking the time on your watch or the clock on the wall. These are big red flags, as it makes you seem uninterested and that you have better places to be.