How to Impress Hiring Managers. How can you make a good impression on a hiring manger? I was asked recently by a message board what to do if you have the ability to network effectively enough and take someone out for coffee who might be able to hire you. There were many great suggestions on how to show your skills and accomplishments. These are all great things you should be able show potential employers, whether at a coffee shop or in an interview setting. They are important, but not enough. Trade Places Imagine that you are a hiring manger. Today is your sixth interview with candidates for a position as a project manager. There will be many candidates in any interview process to bring someone on board. Some will make it to the interview stage simply because they appear good on paper. However, you discover that they don’t meet the initial screenings or paperwork requirements. Some will be okay, while others will be great candidates. You are cautious because you have hired people who you thought were great at the time and now regret the decision to bring them on board. These people are terrible to work with. Others have been successful and have become stars in their teams. Your guard should be up. Tough Crowd: How can you win someone like that over? Let me tell ya something. It’s not about your accomplishments or showing how smart you can be to make a good impression on a hiring manager. It’s not as easy as you think. An interview is about building relationships with other people. Are you aware of the people hiring managers want to hire? This is right. A hiring manager won’t hire you if they don?t feel comfortable with the idea of you seeing them every day and trusting you with important projects that will reflect their company. It won’t be conscious at all. Subconsciously, humans find ways to escape from people they don’t like. You don’t have much chance of success no matter how many degrees or certifications you have. If you are clearly going to be difficult to work with, it doesn?t matter what degree you have. You must understand one thing if you want to maximize your chances of success. It’s Not About You! There are simple things you can do that will help hiring managers like yourself. Research shows that there is a critical point between 6-10 seconds and within the first 90 seconds after meeting someone new. This can help you predict whether they will have an affinity for your company. Ask a Question. You’d be surprised at how many candidates won?t ask questions. A sincere question is the best way to show interest in someone in the first few seconds. It’s more common to say “nice to meet you”. If it’s used in conjunction with a question, it doesn’t have the same impact.

• Ask them how their weekend went if it’s Monday
• You probably know something about them if you’ve networked like I do. Ask intelligent questions about them, especially if you share a common interest. “So Jane said you like golf. Have you been out lately?

This could be nerves or you might not naturally do it when you meet new people. Begin today with hiring managers, grocery store employees, and anyone else you meet. You can ask, “How is your day?” Ask More Questions If you are asked specific questions, you should be ready to answer them. You should also look for opportunities to ask your own questions. Asking smart questions will show that you are interested in the person, their team, or department, as well as the company as a whole. If you’re truly interested in this person and the company, you should ask them related questions after you have answered the question. T