Making the right first impression at an interview is important, especially in today’s crowded job market. I recently read that scientists believe it only takes half a second for people to form an opinion of you – now that’s an alarmingly small window, isn’t it?
Psychologists from the universities of Glasgow, Scotland, and Princeton, US, showed that a simple ‘hello’ is enough to allow most people to draw conclusions about personality type. And this was simply based on a voice recording! Whilst we all know that forming a long-term, bonding connection with someone – whether it’s friendship or a business relationship – is a much more complex process than this, if you’re a job applicant up against a raft of other shiny candidates – all with similar qualifications and glowing references – you need to add a special ingredient into that mix to make you stand out from the crowd.
For me, a smile is the number one game changer. A smile breaks the ice, puts everyone at ease and illustrates a positive outlook. A study recently revealed that most UK workers believe a healthy smile improves their employability and promotion prospects.
The survey of 2,000 employees discovered that two thirds (67%) consider a good smile to be an ‘important asset’ at work and that a quarter (24%) of staff feel that better teeth would give them a greater chance of being promoted.
‘Smile and laugh. Take joy in things you find funny or things that just make you feel good. It’s actually hard to stay negative if you are smiling and laughing’
But there’s more to a smile than sealing the deal at a job interview. It’s just as important to ensure it’s a healthy smile, too. Let me explain…
Last month, a study from Harvard Medical School linked optimism with heart health. The researchers measured the arteries of some 5,100 Americans and assessed their outlook on life using a questionnaire. They found that people who were more optimistic were less likely to have clogged arteries than those who were pessimistic. 
Now, scientists don’t know why optimism is linked with better health but perhaps it has biological benefits.
Previous studies have shown that optimistic people tend to have lower levels of stress hormones and less inflammation and maybe their immune systems also work better.
One tip this piece of research offered was to: ‘Smile and laugh. Take joy in things you find funny or things that just make you feel good. It’s actually hard to stay negative if you are smiling and laughing.’
Is your healthy smile on the button?
Your mouth is also a window to your overall health. Varying degrees of poor oral health has been linked to a number of conditions, including breast cancer, strokes, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, pneumonia, bowel cancer, endocarditis, oral cancer, dementia, pancreatic cancer, psoriasis and pregnancy complications. So, how best to maintain a healthy smile?
Dental hygiene
Dental hygiene is all about taking care of your teeth and mouth through daily teeth brushing and flossing as well as good nutrition and hydration. If you want to discuss your dental health, contact me to book your dental screening. A healthy smile plays a large part in that ‘first impressions’ window of opportunity. Make sure yours speaks volumes about you, your outlook and, just as importantly, your health. References http://www.gla.ac.uk/news/headline_312691_en.html http://www.bupa.com/media-centre/press-releases/uk/leadership-smile/ http://www.intelihealth.com/article/study-links-optimism-with-heart-health