It’s easy to impress an interviewer when you have an awesome personality. You’ll just show up, give all the right answers and ask intriguing questions. You’ll infuse a joke that will make the interviewer laugh. You’ll make sure they can’t wait to see you working in their company.

Okay, it’s not that easy, but it’s easier to impress someone in person than through a written resume and cover letter.

But how do you get that interview in the first place?

That's the question we should be asking. As it turns out, you have to impress recruiters before they even meet you.

“We want people who can laugh and have fun with our guests, which is not something you can easily reconnoiter by reading a CV and asking questions over an interview desk.” That was Richard Branson speaking. From this quote, it’s clear: recruiters are looking for exceptional candidates and they can’t wait for the interview to be impressed.

Let’s see how you can create good first impressions that will give you the heads-up on that job. Here we offer 5 tips for you to follow.

1. Your Social Media Profiles Are Your Virtual Resume. Make Them Good

The interview starts as soon as the hiring manager or recruiter sees your resume. Do you know what their first step is? They check your social media profiles.

Let's say someone noticed you and they want to find out more about you. What do they do? They look you up on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media.

You made everything as private as possible and you're impossible to locate on social media? Wrong move! You need that online presence so potential employers can find out what you like and how you would fit into their organization's culture.

• You need active, professional-looking profiles that show your experience, interests, and ambitions.

• Share links to useful online sources, write notes to share your opinions, and enter discussions. Of course, the things you write or share should present you as an expert in the industry you want to be part of.

• Don't neglect Goodreads. Choose good books related to your interests, share the reading progress and write insightful comments. That’s a nice way to impress a potential employer.

2. Polish Your Online Presence

You already know it: hiring managers will google you before inviting you for an interview, so it is important you do that yourself before applying for jobs. Are there any old blogs, Reddit comments, or pictures that are embarrassing? If so, you need to take them down.

If there's something you can't take down, then you'll need to build a strong online presence. You can create the results that show up on the first page of a search.

• You want to start with your LinkedIn profile, but don’t stop there.

• Continue by building a website and developing your personal brand there. Who said this was going to be easy?

This solution may seem intimidating, but it's not that complicated. Build that site (or a simple blog) and publish your bio there. Then, start sharing high-quality content under your name. Those are the results you want recruiters to see when they Google your name.

3. Send an Awesome Resume with Supplementary Materials

The resume is still part of the game. It has to be absolutely flawless, and you can't base it on a template. Hiring managers see dozens of boring resumes on a daily basis. You want to send something different; something that will stand out. Consider an infographic resume. The visual appeal will bring dry information to life.

In addition to the resume, send something extra. For example, you can include a link to your personal website or online portfolio. Don't send documents as that would seem intrusive. The link will be subtle, but it will lead to a great deal of content the hiring manager can be impressed by.

4. Publish on LinkedIn

Top industry leaders publish on LinkedIn. When you see names like Richard Branson, Bill Gates and David Cameron on the list of authors, the platform may seem intimidating. Good news: you can publish on LinkedIn, too.

You want to publish great content from your niche. When a recruiter reads that content, they should wonder: “Who is this person? How can I get them to work for me?” That’s a nice way to start making valuable connections on this platform.

• Write on topics that can present you as an expert. The content should be very focused and useful for the readers. No recruiter has time for a headline they've seen dozens of time before.

• Find your voice. Make it as recognizable as possible.

• If you explore the platform, you'll notice it favors long-form posts of the highest quality. That's what you should be publishing, too.

5. Get Good Recommendations

Do you know a person who works at the organization you’re applying to? Even if they are not part of your target department, they can be incredibly useful if they recommend you to the hiring manager. Try to find that link. Recruiters trust the people within their organization. Such a recommendation will show you as a good fit into the office culture.

What if you don't have connections on the inside? Is there a way to get a recommendation from someone the hiring manager respects? Well, you can check LinkedIn to see for common connections, and you can ask some of them for a referral.

As Andrew Carnegie says, “You cannot push anyone up the ladder unless he is willing to climb.” Employers are impressed by people who fight for their attention. You can’t be a passive job seeker and expect that attitude to work. You have to show initiative, so ask for that recommendation!

Don’t get us wrong; that interview is still important. However, you need the recruiter to form a positive impression before inviting you into the office. Yes, they will set their expectations high but that’s a good thing. You’ll definitely justify that first impression them with your bright personality and convincing expertise!

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