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editorial
a. Osgoode Hall Law School, 0014G
York University
4700 Keele Street
Toronto, ON M3J 1P3
e. [email protected]
web. www.obiter-dicta.ca
T. @obiterdictaoz
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Obiter Dicta is the official student newspaper of
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monday - september 30 - 2013
OCI and interview prep: how to make
a great first impression
The importance of making a great first impression is one of those truths about the job interview that is so renowned, it has become a
cliché. There is a significant amount of pressure
placed on those first critical seconds of a new
encounter or interview that supposedly define
your relationship going forward. A great first
impression in the interview and job recruitment
process is an imperative tool to have in your
candidacy tool belt. While not all of us are born
with the natural grace of a royal, or the type of
easy, breezy smile that could feature in a toothpaste commercial; a great first impression is
never out of reach. These skills, and take note,
a seamless meet and greet does require skills,
can be learned. For most people, a great first
impression is not spontaneous, but is crafted
and cultivated. By following these simple tips,
you ca n step into OCI’s knowing that you can
achieve the same.
1. Always be on time. A first impression only
starts once you arrive.
William Shakespeare has provided the world
with many a literary gems, but this one bodes
best for the candidate looking to start off on the
right foot, “Better three hours too soon than a
minute too late.”
OCI’s are timed down to an exact science, and
you will only have a calculated and numbered
set of minutes. Don’t be the last candidate, fiddling with your schedule, trying to remember
what booth you’re headed to. Get to where you
need to be as soon as possible, and take advantage of the few extra seconds to introduce yourself before the formal interviewing begins.
After OCI’s, timing becomes infinitely more
important in the interview process. There is
nothing more off putting than a late job applicant. Life happens and coupled with Murphy’s
Law, this means on the day of your interview:
your bus doesn’t show up, there is a delay on the
train, you spilled coffee on your shirt and had
to buy a new one, the little elves hid your car
keys, there was a sheep crossing on the highway, and your dog ate your homework. The
folly of these examples is meant to demonstrate
that even the most reasonable or unreasonable
of reason for tardiness sounds like an excuse.
Don’t make excuses, instead, make a plan and
a back-up plan to ensure, no matter what, you
arrive with time to spare.
2. Take a long look in the mirror. What does
your first impression look like?
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the most
employable of them all?
The answer is: the person who looks the part.
While I am sure you could wow anyone with
your intelligence, diligence, and work ethic,
these characteristics take time to discover and
appreciate. A person’s precursory perception of
you is based on what they see and hear in the
first several seconds of introduction. This is
not a game of vanity where the fairest of them
all wins; however, it is important to look neat,
put together, current, and like you belong in the
environment.
During OCI’s, there is a generally understood
uniform of suits that vary from grey to black,
possibly with a side of navy. Keep it conservative at this stage in the game, and aim to create
a look that will appeal to all sizes of firms you
will be interviewing with
As aforementioned, dress for the part during
the second round of in-firm interviews. While a
black, formal suit may be appropriate for a Bay
Street firm, a more casual, coloured and coordinated look may be better suited for a boutique
firm outside the downtown core. Take time to
assess your image and its appropriateness for
your interview environment.
3. Watch your non-verbal communication.
What does your first impression say in its silence?
93% of all daily communication is nonverbal;
actual words only take up 7%, so they say.
Studies show time and time again that nonverbal communication is as or more important
than verbal communication. This means you
are saying a great deal without saying anything
at all. The key to a great first impression is the
ability to make the other person relaxed and
comfortable in your presence. By sending the
right body signals, you can express an intangible ease about yourself without having to
say a word. Head back to the mirror, practice
saying hello, asking and answering questions,
and moving through the motions of the OCI or
in-firm interview you are scheduled to attend.
Alternatively ask a friend to role-play the interview or event with you. After these exercises,
analyze your natural body movements: do you
fidget, touch your hair, tap your foot, cross your
arms, or look away from eye contact? By being
aware and conscious of “body bad habits,” you
can actively work to exude a more calm, confident and open self through your non-verbal
communication.
4. You’re already impressive
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