The Director of First Impressions – DO NOT take the influence of this Gatekeeper lightly

At a company I worked for prior to my days in recruiting, the Division President made a small decision that to this day stands out to me as brilliant: he renamed the title of the lobby receptionist to “Director of First Impressions.” How true this is! The Director of First Impressions is in a position to be the first line of contact people from outside the company has with the inside. Whether it is by email, via phone, or in person, don’t underestimate the weight this employee can possess.

The first person or company contact you will most likely have when showing up for an interview is the receptionist. This initial contact can literally shape your interview for better or for worse before you even step into the office of the actual interviewer. Just as the answers you provide to interviews question you may be asked are important, so too is your interaction with the gatekeeper. Her/his input about you could be solicited, and could make the slightest difference in being hired or not. Here are a few “Do’s and Don’ts” to keep in mind:

DON’T:

- treat the receptionist rudely or condescendingly! Don’t mistake what you may perceive to be as “low rank” as “no influence”, because you are gravely mistaken.
- act fidgety or impatient. This sends the signal that you are annoyed you have to wait.
- talk on or play games on your cell phone!
- Don’t interrupt the receptionist when on a call or while with another visitor.

DO:

- politely introduce yourself and make sure you ask for her/his name as well. Notice the positive effect it has when you address she/he by name.
- try to build a genuine rapport, but just be careful not to be too overbearing, pushy or annoying. Any of the latter will have the opposite effect
- conduct yourself as professionally in the lobby or waiting area as you would in the interview itself. Believe it or not there are many of us who actually ask the gatekeeper how the interviewee acted, what they read, what they did while waiting. Even the smallest action may not go unnoticed.

This advice though does not apply for interviews alone. As part of your job search you may find yourself hand delivering a resume to a company or calling the company to find needed information (i.e. a hiring manager’s name). The initial impression you make on the gatekeeper can determine whether your physical resume is passed on, or placed directly in the trashcan.

Above all, remember: you never get a second chance to make a first impression.