How To Make A Good First Impression

For anyone looking on how to make a killer first impression and get yourself a better job, this video I recently put together will get you there.

This should help with networking events and first days on the job.

I think it will help some of you nail the "fit" part of your interviews as well.

Enjoy!

P.S. If you want to skip the intro, you can go right to 9:20 of the first video and get straight to the meat :-)

See video 2 inside the post...

Link: How To Make A Good First Impression

 

Ugh, I know. I asked for tighter on the sides and the barber took the buzzer straight up the back of my head. Part bad Portuguese (I'm living in Brazil), part haircut assassin.

Glad you were able to get something from it despite the cut :-)

 

I learned to "smile with my eyes" from an old coworker. It's been an invaluable skill. It helps to have a few happy images in your head you can revert to, to generate the emotion.

I htink all this comes with a caveat, though. While it's helpful to smile on command, too much and you may be regarded as someone that can't be trusted. Feel free to disagree, as I'm super jaded.

 

A bit of constructive criticism - you've taken some of the concepts of 'charisma' a step too far. Flinging your hands around all over the show is not 'positive body language', it's a common trait of a beginner who has read a book or taken a toastmasters class but still hasn't a clue what they're doing. I watched the first minutes of the first video but can't recall a word you said.

The great speakers and presenters command the attention of the crowd. They don't necessarily use their hands a lot, nor do they always speak slowly. But the crowd (or viewer) gets lost in time while they're speaking. The trick is understanding how they do it.

A few excellent examples:

Similarly, watch Ed Viesturs talk for two minutes. He jumbles his words on a few occasions, has his hands in his pockets from time to time, but still has total command of the audience. Ed now does corporate speaking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHWiRe6UL8A

 

I'll play devil's advocate here.

I think most/all of what you say is true. But public speaking and "interpersonal" speaking are two different things.

And I think hands in the pockets are fine, as long as it's not your only move. More importantly, he (Ed) speaks using his diaphragm.

 

The examples you show highlight something I very much agree with: you can be charismatic in a variety of ways. You can mumble, speak quickly, keep your hands in your pockets, make halting eye contact and STILL give an incredible speech that moves people. Each of those things can even enhance your communication if done artfully.

There are no hard and fast rules. But generally speaking, I'm definitely of the opinion that the most charismatic speakers TEND to use a wide range of gesticulations. (Bo Eason is a guy I particularly like for this:

)

 
Myron Gainz:

Hey Charlie,
I am extremely interested in this type of topic, and the psychology behind self-confidence and personal development. Are there any books you recommend reading about this subject matter? Thanks for sharing this--I have found this video very helpful!

Read How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie. Pretty good book.
 

Charlie,

Thanks for doing this..Would really LOVE to see the "Inner Game" aspect as I find myself to be a highly charismatic person around people who know me, but if you throw a powerful executive in the room, or a really hot girl, I tend to shy away. It won't be for a bit until I can get a feel for the person where I start to slowly blossom again, but it never works as smooth as it would if I were known to the person or comfy with him/her if that makes sense...Would love to here about this!

Please & thank you!

 

That was such a goofy move by Will Smith - picking up a grown man and twirling him around? Maybe that's the norm for that show though, I've never seen it. Honestly, the fact that your target is to make someone else FEEL a certain way, AKA manipulate them emotionally, just throws trust right out the window. Perhaps focusing on making yourself a person that is worthy of a person's respect and trust would be a more worthwhile pursuit.

 

First five minutes and last five minutes are the most important one's . Start with a genuine and interesting story how you got to the point where you are so that the interviewer wants to know more about you & likes you. Last five minutes, close with questions that go beyond "What do like about your job / how does a day in your job look like and all that bs" - include something that was mentioned during the interview for example, so he / she knows you listened carefully...

 
Best Response

First, be prepared on technicals and expected behaviorals so that you don't become nervous.

Patrick Bateman makes a good point about first and last 5mins - the first 5 are especially important because at that point you are very in control and operating in charted territory. They will ask you to summarize how you get there. You can rehearse that. You can make it perfect. With the last 5min, be careful so that you ask an interesting question but it's also something that sounds good and genuine - don't use this opportunity to try sounding smart by asking convoluted questions full of jargon.

This is harder advice to follow, but: try enjoying the process of interviews. This will make you seem interested and let things flow comfortably. People will remember you as a good guy who was fun to chat with, as opposed to a ball of sweat and flat out guesses.

 

I feel like this is only possible if you dress slightly obnoxious. Your'e personality, body language, tonality are things you can work on to real stand out.

“The only thing I know is that I know nothing, and i am no quite sure that i know that.” Socrates
 

Qui voluptas enim inventore quos sunt dignissimos. Aut quibusdam ut mollitia est tempora. Exercitationem ipsum totam maiores aperiam architecto.

Nulla et iusto nihil enim et ipsa. Ea quos vel velit laborum exercitationem esse voluptas. Omnis qui eius soluta eos assumenda.

Suscipit ut sint sunt est eum earum voluptatum ab. Libero a maiores quo tempore veniam eius at.

Quia quaerat omnis aspernatur similique. Saepe dignissimos quibusdam et quia delectus ex rem. Et tempore unde dignissimos ut quia. Veritatis ipsa sapiente nihil consequatur ea quisquam.

Those who can, do. Those who can't, post threads about how to do it on WSO.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”