Dare to impress: Three tips to make a great first impression

The ability to take initiative is possibly one of the most critical and important aspects that employers look for in their prospective candidates during placement and employment. Young graduates are put under a microscope during evaluation to ascertain if they possess the quality of initiative within their personality trait. Graduates who take the initiative and make things happen are highly respected and valued at their workplace, which is also applicable to young professionals.

An initiative is a quality that projects the individual as a competent person who can do things without being told. This will create a quest for knowing things that are to be done and will showcase their independent nature, which is what industrial and corporate bosses expect of young persons. But to young graduates and professionals, who are aplenty in today’s job market, taking initiative is easier said than done.

These days, there appears to be a great deal of inhibition on the part of youngsters, who are academically qualified to come forward and act, seizing opportunities that come their way. They expect to be pushed or ordered to come out of their shell to act in various settings. On the contrary, organisations in the modern era want their employees to think on their own and act, which is what propels excellence.

It is no secret that the young graduates, who lack initiative, are also less in confidence. They go silent when asked to come up voluntarily to perform in a group. I have witnessed many students in a class remain deep-rooted to their comfort zone of answering from their seats and hesitate to come forward to face a crowd. But if they want to be known as someone who takes initiative, then this reluctance has to go. It must be mentioned here that initiative is a skill that young graduates and professionals can develop and use to their advantage quite simply. One needs to be open-minded in taking up these actions that can make them effective in taking initiatives.

What to do: organisations in the modern era want their employees to think on their own and act, which is what propels excellence.

Develop a strong sense of self: 

Self-motivation to do anything on a public platform emerges from the deep understanding and appreciation of the ‘self’. Every individual must have trust and faith in their own abilities and potentials, which can be known to the world only if there is meaningful action on their part.

Develop courage: 

There is no harm in failing while you do things since failure is a natural occurrence. One must develop the courage to face people, whatever be the outcome of their actions. The real test is that many do have a considerable fear that their performance or actions will never go well with their environment. They do not want to stand centre stage because they lack courage — something that they must overcome.

Demonstrate persistence: 

The level of commitment that you need to develop a skill for your own progress and growth will always be rewarded if there is a demonstrable persistence with commitment. Individuals must realise that persistence is a quality that enables one to move forward in life when they encounter difficulties or obstacles. Taking initiative is born out of persistence to perform.

An opportunity to impress will never come again; the first time is the best and may probably be the last as well. Young graduates must be able to seize the first opportunity that passes their way and come out of their shell to take the initiative to impress.