Quick Overview

  • Researchers point out that the factors that make a good first impression in the workplace, for better or worse, are dominated by appearance and communication style.
  • Professor Brian Swider of the University of Florida's Warrington College of Business, along with colleagues and T. Brad Harris of HEC Paris, analyzed hundreds of studies on first impressions in the workplace. They found that these first impressions can influence talent decisions for weeks or even months to come. The findings were published this month in the journal Personnel Psychology.
  • Swider said, "People tend to think they are making high-level analytical decisions based on effectively evaluating evidence. But all first impression research shows that no matter how hard we try, that is not the case." The report highlights the challenges managers face in moving beyond first impressions to make objective decisions.

Deep Insights

Swider noted that "how others evaluate you, what is on your resume, and what you say in initial interactions are less influential than other cues," calling this finding "striking."

Unconscious bias remains a thorny issue in talent management. A survey of UK employees released by Headstart in 2021 showed that although 56% of hiring managers believe effort and talent are key drivers of career advancement, 53% of job seekers believe background and parents are key. Some hiring managers admitted that factors such as age, race, or ability had influenced their previous hiring decisions.

To give potential candidates a fair chance, the authors of the University of Florida study recommend that employers structure interviews and evaluation processes so that individual judgment does not carry too much weight in the final outcome, and suggest involving multiple people in talent decisions.

Meanwhile, other research emphasizes that first impressions are a two-way street. A BambooHR survey showed that nearly half of respondents said they had doubts or regrets about a new position within the first week of starting; about a quarter cried within the first week. BambooHR researchers found that employers have on average less than two months (only 44 days) to convince new hires to stay.

The company's then-head of HR said in a statement, "These findings show that recruiting top talent does not end with the offer letter."