It’s been said that most employers form a lasting opinion about a potential candidate within seven seconds of the first handshake. And we’ve all heard stories about people who fell in love, made an enemy, or made a snap decision to trust someone after knowing them for literally less than five minutes. There are plenty of myths in circulation about how first impressions work and the speed with which our brains register someone as friend or foe. But many of these myths clearly hold a grain of truth, and when you first shake hands with a potential employer, you want the odds to fall in your favor. Here are five moves to keep in mind that can help you get the most out your first seven seconds.

1. Step into the room with clear intentions. As you make your way to your interview venue, meeting, or social gathering, think about what you’d like to accomplish. Who would you like to seek out and speak to before leaving? What kind of mood and persona would you like to project? Know these things before you step in the door.

2. Think about your clothing. Of course you know that your outfits and ornaments can speak volumes about who you are and what you want, but that doesn’t mean it’s always the perfect time to take out your five hundred dollar suit. Overdressing can be awkward and can suggest competition. Underdressing is disrespectful and can show a lack of understanding or interest in the event. The best way to get a new person to respect you is to dress with the same level of formality that they do. If you can’t predict what this might be, make an educated guess.

3. Speak up. Don’t keep your thoughts and impressions entirely to yourself. People tend to like those who are easy to read and who are unafraid to share their thoughts and feelings. This conveys confidence and suggests that you have nothing to hide. Of course, open and honest expression should be tempered with diplomacy.

4. Manage the room, and your conversational companion, with your eyes. Don’t just make eye contact; Use your eyes to express your thoughts, to control the conversation, and to show interest in what the other person is saying and doing. Eyes don’t just take in information, they project and share it as well.

5. Be interesting. You are who you are, and there’s no need to fundamentally reshape your personality to please or accommodate another person. But whatever you think, say, and do should reflect the most interesting side of you. Curiosity, animation, good storytelling skills, and good listening skills are all essential elements of interesting behavior.

To learn more about the small details that can make or break a positive first impression, reach out to the Texas job search and staffing pros at Expert.