10 things that ruin first impressions— And how to fix them

You have about seven seconds. That’s it. Before you’ve even finished saying hello, the other person’s brain has already decided if you’re trustworthy, competent, or worth their time. According to Princeton psychologists, we’re wired to make these snap judgments based on tiny cues we might not even realise we’re sending.

Whether you’re heading into a high-stakes job interview or meeting a potential partner, a single slip-up can shut a door before you’ve even walked through it. The good news? Most first-impression “killers” are just bad habits. If you can fix these ten things, you’ll walk into any room with a level of polish that people actually notice.