GREG FOCKER hadn’t even crossed the threshold of the Byrnes’s house, when he put his foot in it and ruined any chance he had of making a good first impression in the movie Meet the Parents.

Stressful situations make people highly skittish just when they need to be calm. This is hilarious at the cinema but not so much fun in an interview or at a presentation.

It doesn’t have to be that way, however. The key to making those first few seconds count in your favour is to be prepared and to know what is expected.

“If the dress code is not right, then even the best CV and body language will be useless,” said Therese McCarthy, the managing director of MAC Consulting, the management consulting firm. Take a good look at yourself and consider whether you fit the profile. An accountant, for example, should dress conservatively, while a designer for a small magazine will be expected to show personal flair.

A beard works well for Richard Branson, the entrepreneur, but it is not recommended for everyone.

“Heavy beards are often associated with learned people like professors, which may indicate that you are more of a thinker than a doer,” said McCarthy.

Some beards can look unkempt, which is not the impression anybody wants to give, so it is worth considering shaving it off. A mass of curly hair can be off-putting too. Malcolm Gladwell, the American author of The Tipping Point and Blink, his new book which explores first impressions in depth, discovered this first hand when he was pulled over by police and accused of being a rapist. “All we had in common was a large head of curly hair,” he said. His wild mop may yet become his signature as the author gains in stature, but for the average person it can hold them back.

The same goes for a strong scent that can be overpowering, so leave it out along with ostentatious jewellery.

“As far as dress code goes, the basics still apply,” said McCarthy. “Be neat, don’t wear a cheap suit. If you have a new shirt, iron it first and be sure not to have been out late the night before because it will make you look pale and gaunt.

“It is important to have as few items on you as possible,” said McCarthy. “Take any important papers, such as your curriculum vitae, and some note paper in a neat leather bag — briefcases are out.”

Once the look is good, confidence comes into play, says Sarah Meagher, an executive search consultant at McEvoy Associates, Signium International. “You can never be too prepared for an interview, and that includes knowing all there is to know about the company. That way you will exude confidence when you walk into the room and little else can go wrong,” said Meagher.

No matter how bad the traffic was, do not enter the building fuming in anger — or you may be pigeon-holed as bad-tempered. Psychological research has shown that people weigh initial information much more heavily than later information when they evaluate people — particularly negative detail, according to Anne Demarais and Valerie White, the authors of First Impressions.

People tend to see a new person’s behaviour as indicative of that person’s character or personality in all situations, they say.

So get there early and take the time to compose yourself, says Robert Phipps, a British body language expert who advises on Big Brother, Trisha and Britain’s Worst Housewives.

“Think through how you wish to be perceived,” he said. “Take a few long, deep breaths to relax the mind and body along with a little bit of self affirmation.”

Once inside, it is essential to acknowledge the people in the room and follow their lead. If somebody offers a hand, it is important to reciprocate.

“The best handshake is firm, but not too firm and involves the palms being vertical, that implies that everyone is even and you are meeting on equal terms,” said Phipps.

Eye contact is just as vital. “This is where body language comes in to its own, as these subtle differences give individual pointers as to how the meeting is going,” he said.

Initial nerves are natural, according to Donal Cronin, the director of training at Carr Communications. “In the first moments of walking into a room, everybody will experience heightened adrenaline, their heart rate speeds up and they get sweaty palms but that very quickly dissipates as soon as the interview process begins,” said Cronin.

Practising the interview or presentation at home or with colleagues is a good tactic, according to Cormac Lankford, a director of the Lankford Counselling and Guidance Bureau and author of The Interview Challenge. “This way you will gain valuable feedback,” he said.

Tape the meeting and then watch the playback, taking note of distracting habits. “This way you will be able to assess your own performance and correct any mistakes that could cost dearly at interview,” said Lankford.

If something goes wrong, remember that other factors will be taken into account. Despite a bad first impression, all is not lost, insisted Cronin. “The interviewer will have an intuitive feel about a person as soon as he or she walks into the room. But they will also have a list of criteria which are necessary to fulfil the expectations of the job and the candidate will score points as he or she goes along.”

It is therefore important to remember that things will not necessarily go from bad to worse as they did for Focker.

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