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During an interview, few things are more crucial than the first impression. The first few seconds of meeting the interviewer is one of the greatest opportunities to show them who you are as a person, as well as what you intend on bringing to their company. This first impression can make or break the interview, and nothing makes a bad first impression than not being able to control bad habits. Unfortunately, most of us have bad habits we wish we could get rid of. We made a list of habits you should consider dropping in order to improve that important first impression during interviews.

 

Poor Hygiene

One of the more obvious bad habits to drop is a lack of proper hygiene. Sometimes hygiene can get away from us in the hustle and bustle of life. However, there is no excuse for showing up to an interview smelling of body odor, arriving with a disheveled beard or a messy hairdo. Take care to give your appearance the much-needed attention it deserves before you go to the interview.

 

Poor Body Language

Look at yourself in the mirror before you leave for your interview. How do you stand? How is your posture? Is your hand ready for a hearty handshake? The first thing anyone sees about you will be your appearance, as well as how you present yourself. Body language is a key component of this. Imagine yourself as a photo, and your body as a picture frame. A photo can look nice, but it will ultimately look out-of-place with a mismatched or dull picture frame. It is the same with body language; it is an integral part of your overall appearance. Try to observe your body language and improve areas that are lacking in enthusiasm. Slouching, few hand gestures, folded arms, and poor handshakes are a few of the bad habits we recommend watching out for.

 

Shifty Eyes, Lack of Eye Contact

For some, eye contact is awkward and difficult. For others, it isn’t so much a bad habit as it is a natural inclination. However, poor eye contact during an interview can mean different things to the interviewer. For one, it could be a sign of insincerity, as people tend to avoid eye contact if they are lying or being deceitful. It could also signify insecurity; you come across as unsure of yourself, and you might seem like you are not confident in your abilities. It could also signify to the interviewer that you are not fully invested in the interview, that your mind is elsewhere thinking of other things. None of these things are good for the end outcome.

Constant Interruptions

This can range anywhere from verbal interruptions, to checking your smartphone, one of the many bad habits most of us are guilty of. One of the worst things you can do to sabotage your interview is to make the interviewer feel less important. Constantly interrupting them is not only rude, but it is ultimately a waste of their time. It signifies that you’re egotistical, or that there’s other things going on at the moment that are more important. On top of all that, most likely, the interviewer is an executive or a person you might be working closely with in the position. Interrupting them alienates them and may even establish a power struggle that will persist even if you are hired.