The Seven-Eleven rule which states people make 11 decisions about us in the first seven seconds of contact.

We are seen before we’re heard, so whatever you want in life, dress for it. An Image Consultant can assist you to develop a professional wardrobe to support and maintain a great first impression.

20 seconds. That is how long you have to make your first impression.

First impressions are crucial. They can make or break an opportunity. It’s human nature to make a judgement about someone when you first meet them, and people can formulate an opinion about you in less than 20 seconds!

What first impression would you like to make? Professional; engaging; approachable; stylish; understated; memorable; interested; interesting; knowledgeable; appropriate; trustworthy; intelligent; warm? Does your personal dress code make the right impression?

A good impression means to impress … To create a good feeling …To give people a good opinion. For these reasons, it’s vital that your first impression is always your best one.

Think about all those places you’re going – job interview, representing your company, OR guest speaker, and everything that’s riding on the success of these occasions, experiences, and judgements!  You never get a second chance to make a first impression!

These assumptions are backed up by a university study – The Seven-Eleven rule which states people make 11 decisions about us in the first seven seconds of contact:  

Education level

Economic level

Perceived credibility, believability, competence and honesty

Trustworthiness 

Level of sophistication

Sex role identification

Level of success

Political background

Religious background

Ethnic background

Social/professional/sexual desirability

William Thourlby’s book, ‘You are what you wear: the key to business success’, also writes that people, when they first meet make at least 10 assumptions that are consistent with the Seven-Eleven Rule.  When you meet someone for that vital first time, you have to go from total stranger to an immediate connection in a few short seconds. What’s that connection going to be…

The importance of first impressions and one-time interactions between people is increasing because of globalization – now with a COVID twist, technology, and frequent job changes – on average we have five to seven career changes in our life. 

We are in an age of constantly meeting new people, and we judge others and are being judged ourselves on the basis of first impression. Once an impression is made it is difficult to change. The point is we are seen before we’re heard, so whatever you want in life, dress for it!