Meeting the Parents

Introducing your boyfriend or girlfriend to the parents (or friends for that matter) can be very nerve wracking. You want to make a good impression for multiple reasons. You want the parents to like you obviously and you want to make your significant other proud as well. Here are some good things to remember in these types of situations.

--Pump your b/f or g/f for information. Find out ahead of time what type of get together this will be and who will be in attendance. Get the run down on the different family members if its going to be more than mom and dad. Especially if anyone is sensitive to certain topics be sure and avoid those. And its worth noting that traditional manners like using Mr. and Mrs., etc. go a long way too.

--Do NOT pull out your cell phone. Unless there is some critical piece of information you are waiting on (we're talking life changing stuff here people) you should not be pulling out the phone to see if you have a text or to check the time, it's rude and it makes it appear that you have somewhere else you'd rather be.

--Try and think of some questions you can ask at dinner or during the mingling to show that you are genuinely interested in getting to know people. Sometimes shyness or being unsure can be misconstrued as disinterest so even if it's challenging try and prepare of couple of questions or comments that will communicate your interest.

Job Interviews

Interviews are all about first impressions. So here are some interview tips for making that first impression a positive one.

--Arrive ten minutes early to fill out any paperwork or to be accessible in case your interviewer is ready for you.

--Dress professionally and remember that overdressing is preferred to underdressing

--Turn off your cell phone

--Greet the interviewer and give a firm handshake

--Take a pause in speaking rather than stalling with "um"s or "uh"s or "like"

--Avoid over-using technical jargon to impress the interviewer

--Shake the interviewer's hand and thank them by name

--Send a thank you note as soon as possible following the interview

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First Date First Impressions

1. Make Eye Contact: Eye contact shows you are interested in the other person. It's a sign of respect.

2. Give Compliments: Whether it's their outfit, their hair or their smile, compliments make everyone feel good and it can show that you appreciate the effort they put into getting ready for the date.

3. Don't talk too closely: It's important to respect boundaries, particularly on a first date.

4. Be on time! There is no excuse for being tardy. Period.

5. Be positive and open to new ideas: Playing pool or mini golf may not be your cup of tea but the idea is to do something together where you can get to know each other. So don't immediately write off their choice of activity.



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Making a Good Impression

You only get one chance to make a first impression.

We all meet people everyday and are consequently presented with the daily opportunities to make a good first impression. Could there by a more important or timely topic? The key is to recognize making a good first impression is always "on the table" so to speak.

Making a good first impression starts with having a good attitude. Jacqueline Kennedy once said "I want minimum information with maximum politeness." People don't always need to know exactly what is happening with you. Even if you are having a bad day its important to pull it together and have a positive attitude when you are making new acquaintances.

A good attitude is always the first step in making a good first impression.