The Psychology of First Impressions

Hosted by Erin Essex and Alicia Gonzalez

Wed, Apr 1, 2026

4:30 PM UTC (30 minutes)

Virtual (Zoom)

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What you'll learn

Factors that impact the first impression

Explore the nuances of communication and how verbal, non-verbal, and behavioral cues can affect your first impression.

Navigating confirmation bias

Learn how to leverage confirmation bias and the halo effect to go further in interviews.

Creating impressions that stick

Understand the psychology of a lasting impression and the steps you can take to make yourself more memorable.

Why this topic matters

The ability to leave a positive first impression is a valuable skill to have. Whether you’re job hunting, networking, or just working on your soft skills, knowing what happens in those first few seconds can change everything. In this lesson, we’ll dive into how we can influence others’ perceptions of us from the very start — helping you build connections that can open doors.

You'll learn from

Erin Essex

Sr Interaction Designer @Youtube | Former Design Director: MongoDB, Shutterstock

Erin Essex is a UX designer, YouTube content creator, design educator, and sought-after public speaker. With a background in Moth-style storytelling, she has spent years helping people craft compelling narratives for both work and life. She’s used these strategic storytelling techniques to land high profile jobs, lead design projects, and connect with audiences across platforms. In this lesson, Erin will dive into the intricacies of leaving a positive first impression so you can take some of these skills home and use them in your next conversations.

Alicia Gonzalez

Sr Learning Specialist & Education Consultant | Host

Alicia Gonzalez is a Senior Learning Specialist with a background in education, consulting, and learner engagement. In this lesson, she will be asking our subject matter expert, Erin Essex, some thought provoking questions on the psychology and tactics behind creating a strong first impression.

Interaction Designer at Youtube

YouTube
Google
MongoDB
Shutterstock

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