First Impressions Matter

Authored by Justin Tan,
Country Head, Adecco Indonesia

Why First Impressions Matter

Sometime in late 2023, Michelle and I found ourselves on a confidential mission in Indonesia. We moved like a two-person special forces unit — lean, fast, and slightly over-caffeinated. Land on Wednesday, set up 16 meetings in 48 hours, disappear over the weekend, then do it all over again. Our mission? To scout the best talent we could find, as we pieced together the dream team for a brand-new setup.

On November 15th, around lunchtime on one of Jakarta’s busiest streets, Michelle and I were dragging ourselves to the next meeting. We weren’t talking — partly because we’d already spoken a marathon’s worth of words in back-to-back interviews, and partly because the heat had drained every drop of energy. (Jakarta doesn’t have four seasons; it has one: summer. Sometimes sunny summer, sometimes hazy summer, sometimes rainy summer, and sometimes rainier summer.) Then, in the shimmering heat, a figure appeared: tall, sharp suit, perfectly groomed, standing under the punishing sun as if it didn’t bother him at all.

First impression? Wow.

The interview lived up to that entrance. His articulation, presence, achievements, even his digital footprint — everything checked out.

Fast forward ten months. By then, Michelle and I had interviewed more than 200 candidates from every possible background and function. We’d hit both the contentment threshold (“we’re finding best people”) and the fatigue threshold. It was time to decide. From that mountain of interviews, we picked 20 people and presented them to the highest management, who would form our Jakarta first team.

Now here’s the confession: yes, we carefully weighed skills, character, and experience. But if I’m brutally honest, the factor that tipped most decisions was simple — First Impression.
And as we debriefed, something magical emerged. We realized the anatomy of a strong first impression could be broken down into the very first four letters of the alphabet: A, B, C, D.

A is for Appearance
Clothes, grooming, and posture speak before you do. A crisp suit, clean shoes, and standing confidently – this sends an instant signal of confidence and competence.

B is for Body Language
A smile opens doors. Eye contact shows engagement (though too much turns a little creepy). Relaxed, confident gestures tell people you know where you stand — literally and figuratively.

C is for Communication
The way you speak matters as much as, or sometimes more than you say. A steady tone, clear articulation, and logical flow (past → present → future) help an interviewer follow your story. For achievements, the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) keeps it sharp and credible.

D is for Digital Presence
In today’s hiring world, recruiters are professional stalkers. LinkedIn profiles, posts, and even comment history paint a picture before you walk into the room. An updated, professional presence online isn’t optional anymore — it’s the new “Swipe Right”.

Two years on, the tall, sharp-suited candidate is one of our most valuable team members. He’s delivered results, built a team with 100% retention, and played a crucial role in cementing our Indonesia setup. Only later did we discover something he had kept under his suit: both his arms are covered in tattoos, each with personal meaning and artistry. In much of the West, that would hardly raise an eyebrow. But in Indonesia — a relatively conservative, professional-services culture — tattoos still carry a stigma.

And that explains why, rain or shine, humid or hotter-than-the-sun, he is always impeccably dressed in a full suit. Because he knows what we learned first-hand: First Impressions Matters.