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Madalas nating marinig yung – “First impressions last.” And that’s true. But how do you turn that first impression into something more? Everyone wants to be liked so it’s especially important when becoming a part of team, taking on a new position abroad or joining an organization. It’s not enough to be qualified or have excellent referrals or experience. Your new boss is looking to hire a likeable person who will be an asset to their company and also not cause controversy by being unapproachable, unfriendly or otherwise not accepted by the majority. Smooth sailing is what they are looking for in a candidate and it’s necessary to prepare for your first meeting to make a connection that is positive and hence profitable for both of you.

Let’s talk about the positive.

Positive ba ang aura mo? Well, a positive outlook, body language and facial expressions are key to winning favour with anyone that you want to like you. If you don’t smile and genuinely project openness, then your future employer may think that you are not a person who will fit in.  Relaxed gestures, good posture, eye contact and a lifted enthusiastic voice will be the first thing that a new person will notice about your demeanor. If you don’t have a confident and friendly firm handshake and a pleasant, smiling face at your meeting, it’s doubtful that the rapport will go very far.

Rapport

The all-important step to starting good relationships. Rapport is a relationship of mutual understanding between people and being able to converse with a person in a pleasant way, noticing their manner and imitate them, or what the psychologist Milton Erickson called ‘matching and mirroring’, will set you on your way to becoming liked. It’s essential that if they are excited about something, you should be too. If they are serious about a subject, so should you be. Nothing says “I like you” like a person who is moving toward you and has a similar outlook and behavior. It’s an ego thing for sure but wanting to be liked goes hand in hand with being liked by another.

Trustworthiness

Are you trustworthy? Can the other person believe what you’re saying because you are delivering your words with genuineness? O kaduda-duda ba ang pagkatao mo? Tell the truth and you will find that your honesty is returned. Projecting that you are dignified, honorable and worthy of their trust will pay off.

Dependability

Can they count on you? This is a big one. When people need you to perform, have their best interests at heart and be the person that they can go to with a problem, they want to know if you are reliable. Show them that you have a history of reliability by offering an example where you didn’t fail to show up, do the work and help when needed. Executive jobs in particular are most demanding and if that is your goal, the recruiting consultant or interviewer with whom you meet needs to know also that you can handle the pressure and live up to the responsibility of management.

Be a team player

Lastly, appreciate their position. If a prospective employer is proud of an accomplishment, then engage them by voicing respect and admiration in a measured way so that they realize your empathy toward hard-earned successes. Be sure to know before you go, by researching the company and person whom you are to meet so that you will have the information to maintain a conversation.

Mainly, be interested in them at every turn. Interested candidates can win favour by remaining interested in others enough so that they will notice your likeability of them. Asking questions about the company, noting great press, talking about what made them successful and being engaged in their future will surely be a step toward likeable you becoming a part of that future, too.

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