The Importance of The First Impression

I was almost through my teenage years (19 years old to be precise), when I had my ear pierced. I was not a stoner. I was not a bad or rebellious teenager and nor was I “troubled”. Au contraire.

I got it done “ just because”. It was fashionable. It was cool. It was the mid-80’s. And since I was working in my family’s record store at the time and going to university, I was good to go with an earring. In short, it was my image.

Three years later, I immigrated to Toronto. It took me a mere 8 days to learn how important first impressions were. I needed to get a job – a real job, and fast – and so my earring (without regret, I may add) had to go. Without question, image matters a lot. In the workplace, the evidence is even clearer. In a recent survey, developed by Accountemps, (a Robert Half company) and conducted by an independent research firm, 29% of respondents interviewed indicated it takes them less than five minutes to draw conclusions about an interviewee.

The bottom line - in today’s marketplace, job seekers don’t have much time to win over hiring managers. In the same survey, a full 52 percent of HR managers polled said they form a positive or negative opinion of candidates during interviews in 10 minutes or less.

“Image is everything today, especially as far as job seekers are concerned,” said Koula Vasilopoulos, a Vancouver-based, Senior Regional Vice President at Accountemps. “Not only do job seekers need to impress the interviewer, but they need to impress all others in the company with whom they’ve interviewed or even interacted.”

And here’s the rub. Our 15-year old son Jason is now looking for a part-time job – like any other teenager, he wants the iPhone 5. We’ve told him he can get one with his first (or rather his first few) paycheques. I helped him prepare a short resume. Told him do put on a nice pair of trousers with a dress shirt. He did. His tousled, teenage face was freshly washed and his hair neatly brushed. The preppy look. Bright-eyed and bushy tailed, and with his newly-minted resume in hand (with me in tow), we headed to our local mall yesterday: job-hunting.

He looked damn good, even if I say so myself. Jason’s a confident kid. He’d rehearsed his lines a few times with me. He had his act together.

He hit Pharma Plus, EB Games, HMV, No Frills and a few others – dropping résumés and completing applications. I’d hardly say he was interviewed, but a few managers saw him and seemed keen. I’d like to think he made a good impression in the 30-60 seconds he chatted to each. On our way home I told Jason that he should follow up this week with each application. “No” he said. “They’ll call me if they want to hire me.”   Yeah right! (is what I'm, thinking)

Koula and I both believe the follow-up is as (if not more) important than the initial encounter. He thinks not. But that’s OK. I’m just glad Jason is looking for work. To note, he’s also at the age where he thinks his parents are totally clueless about everything (sound familiar?). By the time he’s 20, we think, he think we’ll be smarter.

So, what are some tips I’d give Jason (or any other job-seeker).

Accountemps says it very well.

1. Attention to details. Shake hands firmly and maintain eye contact. Present a professional image. Ensure your shoes are shined, clothing is pressed, and nails are clean and trimmed.
 
2. Ace the likely questions. Make sure you know how you will respond to predictable questions, such as, “Can you tell me a little about yourself?” Research the firm before your interview and tap your network for their insights to enable you to couch your answers in the context of how you can help the company.
 
3. Don’t be cocky. Strike the right balance between presenting your accomplishments in a positive light and coming across as overly confident. Being arrogant is one of the worst mistakes a candidate can make.
 
4. Tell memorable stories. Give specific examples of how and why you’ve been successful. You’ll make a positive impression on hiring managers by sharing interesting anecdotes about how you solved tough business problems or saved an employer money.

5. Be yourself. Don’t come across as overly rehearsed. Interviewers want to get a sense of your personality and how you would fit into the office culture.

And in the coming weeks, I’ll tell you how Jason’s doing in his job search. Stay posted.

Help! I'm Having An Affair (With New York City)

I first met New York City in July 1981 when as a fresh-faced 15-year old kid, I went into Manhattan every day with my child-hood friend, Peter. We were young, naïve and innocent, bumming around as teenagers do, when we happened on Serendipity. We blew our daily budget on their decadent banana split, $8.95 in those days.

My letter of thanks to Serendipity’s founder, Calvin Holt started my love affair with that remarkable city – and things haven’t changed a bit.

I returned to New York City in 1983, met Calvin and worked at Serendipity for pocket money. We became fast friends – he was 55 at the time. A socialite. A bon vivante. A raconteur tres extraordinaire.

He showed me a side of the city that few adults ever see, let alone a seventeen year old kid from the backwaters of Africa.All nighters at Studio 54. Harvey Wallbangers galore. Long lunches on Hester Street. Whole days at the Met. Dinners at Lutece.

Sadly, Calvin departed this world - May 14, 1994. I still speak to Serendipity’s co-founder and the-late Calvin’s best friend – my friend Steven.

New York City – there is no city like you. Not quite 23 square miles big, Manhattan is home to some 1.8 million people – it’s crowded, yet sublime. And so very cosmopolitan. Where else in the world can you blow almost $700 for 250g of Osetra caviar and seconds later scarf down a street dog for a buck-and-a-half?
It’s appealing - despite the fact that I’d eat neither.

Fifteen years ago on a visit to New York City I found myself taking a train from Grand Central Station to Connecticut on a bitterly-cold and snowy Sunday night in February. It was about 9:30pm, and the station for once was eerily quiet. Ten feet away, a lone woman in a wheelchair began the familiar refrain … “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.... I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now, I see.”

It was like she was singing for me. Just me. Twenty minutes and four songs later, I’d emptied my pockets. So had dozens of others. I’d also missed my train. It didn’t matter.

Only in New York.

Eight years ago, I took my grand-uncle, Herbie, (then in his late seventies) a retired gynecologist (and the doctor who delivered me, by the way) to watch a Sampras-Agassi tennis match at the U.S Open Tennis in Flushing Meadows. We’re both huge tennis fans. After the game we stopped at the Second Ave. Deli – a kosher, New York City culinary institution. Herbie had the smoked meat sandwich; I had the pastrami on rye. With a couple of scotch and sodas each (Herbie’s signature drink) to wash our dinner down, we rolled out of there, tipsy and content.

I’ve made innumerable trips to that city – and the love affair continues.

Last weekend I was there again. As they say in Paris (my second most-favorite city) --- “Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.”

This time, I did not go to my many favorite haunts. Instead I spent ten fantastic hours alone - wandering. Wandering here. Wandering there. I discovered the Chelsea Market. I had cappuccino on Mulberry Street. I went to the Beacon Theatre and then to Mario Batali’s Eataly. I walked Times Square. I also spent a tremendously inspiring hour pondering social media with Peter Shankman.

Most importantly, I went to Ground Zero where almost 11 years ago to the day, cowardly terrorists brought the World Trade Center down in a heinous act of crime against humanity. All humanity. And in doing so changed the world. I paused. I bowed my head. I paid my respects to the slain. The young. The innocent. The lost forever.

Then I moved on, bitter-sweet - blending in with the millions of New Yorkers hustling to get home for dinner.

Happy, sad, funny or bizarre experiences in New York City? Don't be shy! Write them below ---