8 Ways to Make a Terrible First Impression

8 Ways to Make a Terrible First ImpressionYou know how important the first impression is. Thats why it can be really easy to screw it upeven if you only screw it up by trying too hard. Here are a few ways to really make a belly flop of your first impression. Study them and make sure to pivot in another direction googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) 1. Try Too HardWe know you want to be memorable. So do they. If youre too witty, too eager, too high energy if you finish your interviewers sentences or jump in too quickly with a personal anecdote or some sidebar to explain some aspect of your resume if youre generally just too RIGHT THERE rather than making an effort to listen to your conversation partner rather than perform then youre trying too hard. And whomever youre talking too is probably more tired than intrigued.2. Being Too DifferentIf youre laboring to point out your personal quirks in a transparent effort to platzdeckchen yourself apar t from the crowd, you might actually be doing yourself a disservice. Theres nothing wrong with being average or above average. You dont have to shout how unique you are at every conversational turn.3. Bad Body LanguageHow you carry yourself matters, too. Try not to cross your arms across your chest. Make sure to smile and make eye contactas failure to do both can make you seem hostile and untrustworthy. And whatever you do, be respectful of others personal space. Dont be the space invader.4. InappropriatenessDont gossip.Youll come off looking terrible. And dont make rude or inappropriate jokesparticularly off-color ones or potentially political or bigoted ones either. No one will want to get to know you better if youre rude or racist.5. RudenessIf you keep checking your watchor worse, staring at your phone the entire time, then you deserve to make a bad impression. Grow up. Put your devices down and be present for the five minutes it takes to make a good impression.6. OversharingDon t try to forge instant intimacy by sharing all the intimate details of your life. Your personal history should stay at least a little personal for the first 10 minutes of a new connection. And you never know when you might put your foot in your mouth because of not knowing anything about the other persons personal history. Also, you and this person have literally just met. How can you be sure theyre trustworthy?7. NosinessOn the other hand, dont ask a bunch of nosy personal questions to try and find out that other persons intimate personal history. Let that stuff happen naturally over time as the relationship builds. If you even make it out of the conversation with a relationship to build, that is.8. SteamrollingThis includes filling every silence with chatter and assuming the other person agrees with you about everything you say, and then ranting on and on about it. Take a moment to step back and give your conversation partners some space to speak. Try listening for once and dont b e too stingy to relinquish your spot in the drivers seat.