Making a Great First Impression

Getting off to a Good Start With Hijab On

Wearing a hijab does all the talking for most of girls and women who embrace their modest way of living, it makes a first impression, that speak louder than words.

Most people have negative connotations about women who wear hijabs, then it’s hard to counter balance that – this a aday to day challenge of hijabists

But the most important message to come out of this article has to be this: "hijab is what you want to wear, and how you want to be addressed.  

Learn how to make a great first impression, on first interview with your hijab on.

It takes just a quick glance, maybe three seconds, for someone to evaluate you when you meet for the first time. In this short time, the other person forms an opinion about you based on your appearance, your body language, your demeanor, your mannerisms, and how you are dressed.

With every new encounter, you are evaluated and yet another person's impression of you is formed. These first impression can be nearly impossible to reverse or undo, making those first encounters extremely important, for they set the tone for all the relationships that follows.

So, whether they are in your career or social life, it's important to know how to create a good first impression. Here are some useful tips to help you do this.

Be on Time

Someone you are meeting for the first time is not interested in your "good excuse" for running late. Plan to arrive a few minutes early. And allow flexibility for possible delays in traffic or taking a wrong turn. Arriving early is much better that arriving late, hands down, and is the first step in creating a great first impression.

Be Yourself, Be at Ease

If you are feeling uncomfortable and on edge, this can make the other person ill at ease and that's a sure way to create the wrong impression. If you are calm and confident, so the other person will feel more at ease, and so have a solid foundation for making that first impression a good one. Making a good first impression starts with being comfortable and confident in your own hijab.

Present Yourself Appropriately

Of course physical appearance matters. The person you are meeting for the first time does not know you and your appearance is usually the first clue he or she has to go on.

But it certainly does not mean you need to look like a model to create a strong and positive first impression. No. The key to a good impression is to present yourself appropriately.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and so the "picture" you first present says much about you to the person you are meeting. Is your appearance saying the right things to help create the right first impression?

Start with the way you dress. In a business setting, what is the appropriate business attire? Suit, blazer, casual? And what about your grooming? Clean and tidy clothes? Clean and tidy appearance is appropriate for most business and social occasions.

Appropriate dressing and grooming help make a good first impression and also help you feel "the part", and so feel more calm and confident. Add all of this up and you are well on your way to creating a good first impression.

A Word About Individuality

The good news is you can usually create a good impression without total conformity or losing your individuality. Yes, to make a good first impression you do need to "fit in" to some degree. But it all goes back to being appropriate for the situation. Express your individuality appropriately within that context.

A Winning Smile!

As the saying goes, "Smile and the world smiles too." So there's nothing like a smile to create a good first impression. A warm and confident smile will put both you and the other person at ease. So smiling is a winner when it comes to great first impressions. But don't go overboard with this – people who take this too far can seem insincere and smarmy, or can be seen to be "lightweights."

Smiling also improves your overall attitude. And your attitude—whether you mean to consciously convey it or not—is also a big determinant of how people perceive you. It’s a lot harder to appear aloof, sullen, or rude when you have a smile plastered to your face.
It’s just science.

Be Open and Confident

When it comes to making the first impression, body language as well as appearance speaks much louder than words.

Use your body language to project appropriate confidence and self-assurance. Stand tall, and allow your interviewer to concentrate more on what you say. All of this will help you project confidence and encourage both you and the other person to feel better at ease.

Almost everyone gets a little nervous when meeting someone for the first time, which can lead to nervous habits or sweaty palms. By being aware of your nervous habits, you can try to keep them in check. And controlling a nervous jitter or a nervous laugh will give you confidence and help the other person feel at ease. 

Prep and Practice

Conversations are based on verbal give and take. It may help you to prepare questions you have for the person you are meeting for the first time beforehand. Or, take a few minutes to learn something about the company or a person you meet for the first time.

Even if you don’t know who you’re going to meet, you know you’ll meet someone. Prepare some talking points! Practice with a friend.  The key to feeling calm is being prepared. And the more calm you feel, the better impression you’ll make.

Is there anything that you know of that you have in common with the person you are meeting? If so, this can be a great way to open the conversation and to keep it flowing.

Doing research on those you’re trying to influence is easier in some situations (such as preparing for that job interview) but you can do your due diligence, regardless.
If you have people’s names ahead of time, use them! We both know the Internet is fantastic for digging up information on just about anyone. And if you don’t have names, ask for more information from those you do know—like a mutual friend, a host, or even a LinkedIn connection.
Learn a little bit more about the people you’ll meet: what are their names, backgrounds, hobbies? You don’t have to learn everything about them, of course; that’s a little bit creepy and you can (and should) let some topics come up naturally in conversation.
But the more research you do, the more at ease you’ll feel when you finally do meet.

Be Positive

Your attitude shows through in everything you do. Project a positive attitude, even in the face of criticism or in the case of nervousness. Strive to learn from your meeting and to contribute appropriately, maintaining an upbeat manner and a smile.

Be Courteous and Attentive

It goes without saying that good manners and polite, attentive and courteous behavior help make a good first impression. In fact, anything less can ruin the one chance you have at making that first impression. So be on your best behavior!

One modern manner worth mentioning is "turn off your mobile phone". What first impression will you create if you are already speaking to someone other than the person you are meeting for the first time? Your new acquaintance deserves 100% of your attention. Anything less and you'll create a less than good first impression.

Follow-up and Follow-through

Because you are the savvy woman that you are, I know you exchanged contact information with the person (or persons) you met. Follow up afterward! Thank them for meeting with you, mention something that stood out to you in your conversation, or share a link or a contact they might be interested in. 
By remembering to follow-up and being friendly and helpful, you’re so much more likely to ensure that they remember you—and remember you fondly—too.

Key Points

You have just a few seconds to make a good first impression and it's almost impossible ever to change it. So it's worth giving each new encounter your best shot.

Much of what you need to do to make a good impression is common sense. But with a little extra thought and preparation, you can hone your intuitive style and make every first impression not just good but great.

Obviously, you’ll never be able to control what people think of you, but you can do your part to shape the perception of you to one that is positive, enduring, and authentic.
And that brings me to the most important tip yet: be yourself. 
It sounds cliché (because it’s become a bit cliché, unfortunately), but the sentiment remains true. There’s no point in making a good impression if it’s one that you can’t maintain; if it’s one that isn’t true to you. 
Do your best to prepare and present your best self, but make sure it’s just that—your self.
How do you make a good first impression? Share your top tip with us in the comments below.