Lesson 18 — Activity 3: Finding a Job: Making a Good First Impression
Completion requirements
Lesson 18 — Activity 3: Finding a Job: Making a Good First Impression
After you have thought about the kind of work you might like to do and have done some research to find out if such jobs are available, you want to be sure you are well prepared to go into the workplace to fill out a job application or hand in your résumé.
When you go to the place you are interested in working, making a good impression on the people you meet is very important. You would not want to drop off your application and meet the employer if you were not presenting yourself at your best!
To make a positive impression on a potential employer or co-worker, you need to think about some of the important elements of verbal and non-verbal communication you learned about in Theme 1.
When you go to the place you are interested in working, making a good impression on the people you meet is very important. You would not want to drop off your application and meet the employer if you were not presenting yourself at your best!
To make a positive impression on a potential employer or co-worker, you need to think about some of the important elements of verbal and non-verbal communication you learned about in Theme 1.
Here are some suggestions for when you go to a place where you would like to work:
- Dress appropriately. Even if you are just dropping off an application form, you will be seen by people you might be working with as well as customers you might be dealing with if you get the job. Dress neatly and carefully.
- Be polite. You might not always know if the person you are handing your resume to is the receptionist or the person who will be deciding whether to hire you, so treat everyone with respect. (That's always wise in any situation, but it takes continual practise!)
- Practise a strong handshake. You want to seem confident when you meet new people, so a strong, firm handshake will help you appear that way even if you are nervous.
- Be prepared. You should be able to explain your purpose in visiting the workplace politely and without getting nervous or confused. (Practise at home or with a friend.)
- Be flexible with your time. You might be asked to wait to meet the employer or someone else. Try to plan to have some extra time available.
