It is no secret that a first impression is one of the most important aspects of a meeting. A first impression sets the stage and gives the other person an idea of who you are. This can be a good impression or a bad impression. There are five top qualities that I notice when meeting someone; eye contact, body language, hand shake, tone of voice and overall appearance.

     The first characterization that I notice is eye contact. When approaching some one I want to see if they meet eye contact or appear to be more interested in their surroundings. After an initial contact I make a personal note as to whether they hold eye contact or are dodgy. When a person does not maintain eye contact, many questions begin to rise. I wonder if the person is not interested, if they are flighty, or have something to hide. A confident person, with a purpose will make and maintain contact. They will display appropriate and engaging body language.

     The second important first impression is body language. When speaking with someone, as much if not more is said through body language. Body language can express someone as being open or closed. An open body will appear simply that, they have an open and welcoming frame. They will be engaging and actively communicate with you. A closed person will turn away, they will have their arms crossed and over-all appear uninterested. One other very important aspect of a person's body language is their hand shake.

     A hand shake is extremely important and tells more about someone then their first words. A firm hand shake informs the other that a person is confident, sure footed and means business. A shaky or misplaced hand shake can raise many questions. A person such as this will also appear flighty and unsure of them self. After assessing a person's hand shake it is imperative to asses a person's over all appearance.

    A person's appearance gives tells as to how some one takes care of them self. Many people look favorably on a well groomed and up-kept person as opposed to a messy and un-kept person. Clothing is very important, are his clothes clean and well pressed? The appearance of a person's clothing can shine light into his life. Unkept clothes can be hints at disorder in a person's life. Other tells are a person's hair, are they clean shaven, and are their nails properly trimmed? All of these help to define a person's appearance.

     Overall these five characterizations all combine to create an opinion during a first impression. While they appear in a list, arguably they are all equally important. When meeting someone for the first time it is always wise to put your first foot forward and strive to make a good first impression. Whether the impression is for a job interview, applying for a mortgage, meeting someone at party or meeting your fiance's parents for the first time a first good impression can make all the difference.