How quickly do you form a first impression? Interview First Impressions - Part 1 After sitting in hundreds of interviews over the years, I can tell you this… In those opening moments, I’ve often already decided whether someone feels like a potential fit. Not because I’m judging them as a person. But because first impressions create a filter. And once that filter is there, everything else gets interpreted through it. Here’s the part most candidates don’t realise. When we like someone, we’re far more forgiving of minor mistakes later on A slightly clumsy answer. A moment to think. A word that didn’t land perfectly. We let it go. But when we’re unsure about someone from the start? We subconsciously look for evidence to confirm that feeling. Every small stumble feels bigger. Every vague answer feels riskier. Same interview. Different lens. That’s why first impressions matter so much. I’ve seen candidates who looked perfect on paper walk into the room as a completely different person. Low energy. Unclear answers. No presence. And I’ve seen others with less traditional backgrounds win the room in the first few minutes because they showed up prepared, clear, and confident. The interview doesn’t start with the technical questions. It starts the second you walk in. Or the second the camera turns on. Your tone. Your posture. Your opening answer to “Tell me about yourself.” That’s where momentum is created. And momentum shapes perception. Follow for Part 2 where I’ll be sharing a simple strategy that has helped hundreds of candidates in different countries and industries land their next role. #interview #interviewconfidence #jonsearch #knowyourworth #talkstorywithjames