by Androula Miller

When meeting someone for the first time, greeting is all important - it only takes about seven seconds for someone to begin to form an opinion about you.

Greeting people effectively is an important part of building rapport. If you build rapport quickly you become more likeable and easy to talk to. The basics for greeting people are:

• Use people's names if you know them ("Hello you must be John")
• Introduce yourself
• Shake hands
• Maintain eye contact
• Smile
• Speak clearly

Names are important
Names are important to us as they separate us from everyone else. When we hear someone use our name in a friendly manner it makes us feel good. All interview panels are made up of people with names.

If you have an unusual name, say it clearly when you introduce yourself. Have fun with your name, linking it to something that people know will make it easier to remember. When I introduce myself I say "Hello I'm Androula, sounds like pen and ruler without the pen". People laugh but they don't forget my name. Your goal is to be remembered once the interview is over.

Handshakes tell a story
A good handshake tells a lot about us. There is a technique to shaking hands and unfortunately many of us have not been taught. There are two extremes - the limp handshake and the bone-crusher. The limp handshake says "I'm not comfortable shaking your hand" and implies a lack of confidence. The bone-crusher says "I'm trying to dominate you without using words" and implies power-game playing. For a good handshake:

• Aim for a firm but not bone-crushing handshake (squeeze gently)
• Offer your hand upright, this conveys equality
• The entire hand should be engaged, web-to-web (your thumbs should connect)
• A handshake should last as long as "one, two, three" you should know the colour of the other person's eyes by the time you have finished shaking
• Close your meeting with a handshake.

Make sure you shake hands with everyone in the interview room regardless of age, sex or position in the organization.

If you are not sure what your handshake is like, practice on friends or family. Give them the three categories of Limp, Firm and Bone-Crushing and have them rate you. Keep trying until you get it right.

Eye contact shows respect and interest
Eye contact is one of the most important aspects of dealing with others, especially people we have just met.

Maintaining good eye contact shows respect and interest in what people have to say. As a listener we tend to make more eye contact. As a speaker it ends up becoming uncomfortable if we go beyond five seconds of eye contact with the same person. You don't want a "stare down" competition. When you are asked a question in an interview situation, direct you answer to the person that asked the question, then look at each of the other people in the room.

Often we find ourselves in a situation where it is uncomfortable to maintain eye contact with a certain person. It may have to do with a negative first impression of the person or there may be something disconcerting about their eyes. If you are finding it hard to maintain eye contact, look at the forehead, right between the eyebrows. Trust me, this is a tried and true technique and the person with whom you are speaking won't notice the difference.

The power of the smile
The smile is very powerful. It is a fact that when your face is smiling your voice sounds happy. A smile also conveys enthusiasm and enjoyment of what we do. A smile is a good way of building rapport. It costs us nothing to smile but it may make a big difference to the people with whom we are speaking. When you smile keep it sincere, if you are not a natural "smiler", think of something nice.

Body language speaks louder than words
Non-verbal communication is really powerful. When we talk to someone, what they believe is based only 10% on the words used, 30% on the tone, volume and speed in which the words are said and 60% on the physical expression and body language.

Both your words and behavior will affect whether you establish a connection and build rapport with an interview panel. You want to appear confident, trusting, open, attentive and eager. Your handshake can communicate a lot in the first few seconds, so remember the handshake technique.

When you sit across from an interview panel sit up straight and lean forward slightly. This conveys attentiveness and eagerness. Leaning back it the chair may come across as boredom or disrespect and can limit your chance of success.

Try not to cross your arms across your chest as it could come across as discomfort or having something to hide. Try and keep your arms by your side, resting your hands in your lap or on your legs.

If using your hands when speaking, show your palms. Palms slightly up and outward are seen as open and friendly. Palm down gestures are seen as dominant or aggressive.

Mirror your audience's body language. When they smile, you smile. When they furrow their brow, you furrow yours. Only mirror appropriate behavior! We don't want you coughing or sneezing just because someone on the interview panel does it. This is a sure way to be shown the exit!

Make sure that your body language matches what your say. For example, if someone on an interview panels says "There is some weekend work, are you ok with that?" and you say "Of course, that's fine", you will contradict what you're saying if you're rubbing your ear lobe or putting your hand over your mouth as you speak.

Get clarification
Many people leave interview situations wondering if they have given the interview panel the information they asked for. If you are not sure about something that is asked of you, clarify. Check that you have heard the question correctly - for example, "As I understand it the hours will be.." or "Do you mean..?" or "Could you give me an example?". This way you ensure that you have understood the questions and are able to answer them thoroughly rather than going off on a tangent.

Lastly, at the end of an interview:

• Thank the panel
• Shake hands with each member
• Maintain eye contact and smile!