Alumni Advice: Making a Strong First Impression
St. Thomas students are meeting many new people this fall, both in the classroom and at the Fall Career Fair on September 20th. We asked alumni on St. Thomas Connect: “What advice do you have on how to make a great first impression?” Check out their words of wisdom below!
Interested in getting more alumni advice? Search for alumni on St. Thomas Connect who have volunteered to support your career journey.
On Career Fair First Impressions:
“Research the companies you’re interested in ahead of time and tailor your approach when speaking to their hiring representatives. Being prepared, confident, and showing genuine interest will help you stand out. Also, brainstorm a couple of thoughtful questions to ask the employers to leave a lasting impression.“
- Amelia Northrup, Project Manager, Boston Scientific
“One thing to remember is that during the first week of classes or at career fairs, everyone is going to be uncertain, eager, and a bit nervous. Being cognizant of this can help you stay relaxed, be more empathetic of what everyone else is going through and be in a better position to put your best foot forward. The key is to try to be authentic. Trying to find ways to speak about your passions or things that genuinely excite you is a great way to ease nervousness and let others get some positive insights about you.“
Eshan Varma
“Be authentic, be confident, be upbeat when delivering your message; be concise.”
- Kobie Bardouille, Senior Vice President – Senior Commercial Banker, Bank of America
“When in classes, always try to sit near the front; you’ll be more engaged with the material being taught, and less distracted by anything or anyone behind you.“
Thomas Engrav
“Just be yourself. People see through phonies. Relax and be open.”
Bill Kilduff
“Make eye contact with everyone you speak to, be confident, be comfortable asking questions, and treat others the way you would want to be treated.”
Tim Beaudette
“Whether it be at a Career Fair or a new class, recognize that most of the people in the room are feeling the same angst. Some may even feel terrified. You have done this before in prior classes, clubs, band, sports teams and you survived and probably thrived in those experiences. What has worked for me is telling myself to smile. If I remind myself to smile, I have learned my confidence increases as well. The people around you, be it a student, professor or hiring manager, will also relax when they look across and see you smiling.“
- Tom Fischer
“Adopt a Positive Mindset – Reframe Nerves as Excitement: Try to view your nervousness as a sign that you care about making a good impression. Ask Questions – Show Interest: Asking questions shows that you are engaged and interested in the other person. Listen Actively – Focus on the Speaker: Pay attention to what the other person is saying rather than thinking about your next response. Find Common Ground – Shared Interests: Look for common interests or experiences to discuss. This can make the conversation flow more naturally. Be Yourself – Authenticity: Being genuine helps build trust and makes interactions more meaningful.”
Rachel Rice
“Be yourself, join interest groups that do things you like to do, and the rest will fall into place.”
Anna Rauzi
“Know your audience so you can determine how you want that first impression to come across. Remember, you only have one chance at a first impression.”
Linda Ladley
“Dress your best! Looking confident and prepared makes a great first impression on your classmates and future employers!“
Sara Ford
“This is pretty standard advice – to make a good impression in the classroom, listen. Be attentive. Participate if you have something of value to add. Be friendly, and not overbearing. At career fairs, you are marketing yourself, and it’s a two-way street, you are trying to find out about the company, and also communicate how you feel you could help them. Find out what you can beforehand, so you can ask intelligent questions and tailor your pitch to their needs.”
Timothy Moran
“When you are starting your career, be open to taking any job in any location that can help you gain new experiences and skills. This will accelerate your development far beyond your peers and set you up for long term success while also giving you the opportunity to live in new places you may find you love even more than Minnesota.”
- Matt Lilla, Division Vice President, ALDI Food Market
“When connecting with recruiters or company representatives, be clear on your “why”. Make sure they walk away from the conversation seeing you as someone who wants to be a part of their organization rather than someone looking to be part of any organization.”
Daniel Hildebrandt
“The basics always work: Dress well, speak well, smile, shake hands, square-up, engage “the whole person,” learn something new and unique about him/her, let him/her know something about you. If the meet-up calls for your elevator speech, keep it under 20 seconds. Keep on hand a few good conversation starters or boosters (restaurants, books, and movies are good topics; weather, traffic, and your commute are not).“
Marc Shrake
“Make a great first impression with your professors by being an active participant in the class. Show up, be engaged, and ask for help when you need it. And, it may sound cliche, but always lead with kindness wherever you go. People will always remember that!“
Jennifer Harrison
“Eye contact is always at a premium. Go out of your way to make sure you greet – well – anyone leading with solid eye contact. In today’s digital world – where faces are too often buried in phones or the like – the art and importance of immediate eye contact is often lost.“
Paul Ford
“A great first impression at anytime is a smile and eye-to-eye contact showing your confidence and a handshake. A positive attitude is attractive and can set you apart and it puts the other person at ease.”
Allan Hansen
Megan Hoffman
“Research the company & jobs as much as you can!”
