Executives say ten minutes is the amount of time it takes for them to form an opinion of job seekers during interviews, according to a survey by Robert Half International.
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Download NowThe survey asked 150 senior executives, "How long does it typically take you to form either a positive or negative opinion of a job candidate during an initial interview?" The mean response was 10 minutes.
The survey found that executives spend a lot longer than 10 minutes with job candidates in interviews. The survey asked executives, "How many minutes, on average, do you spend meeting with a staff-level candidate during a job interview?" The mean response was 55 minutes.
Respondents also were asked, "How many minutes, on average, do you spend meeting with a management-level candidate during a job interview?" The mean response was 86 minutes.
"The interview begins the moment job seekers arrive, so applicants need to project enthusiasm and confidence from the start," says Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International. "The opening minutes of the conversation often set the tone for the rest of the discussion, making it wise to prepare especially well for the first few interview questions."