"My favorite way to make a lasting impression on a new client is to know their name and a little bit about them before our first meeting. When it shows that I prepared for our initial meeting, it tells the client that I care about our working relationship."

"I am on the phone quite often, so one of the ways I show new clients that I am interested in them is to repeat their words back to them to show my understanding. I also think it makes a huge difference when I am prepared with strong product knowledge and answer the phone with a smile."

"Our new clients always receive a personal call from me. I let them know that we appreciate their business. I ask a few targeted questions so that I can better understand how we can exceed their expectations. From there, I take the information to my team. We most often blow our customers' expectations out of the water."

"New clients need to feel like they can trust me instantly, and, in my opinion, the best way to do that is to get to know them and show them that I care. I am a fantastic listener and will always deliver on a project early. This level of service is rare these days, and my new clients always comment on how refreshing my approach is."

"Sales professionals often get a bad rap for being untrustworthy. Knowing this, I approach my new clients in a way that will build instant trust. I keep my appointments, I am always 5 minutes early, and I will call them with updates on their orders before they feel the need to reach out to me."

"Most retail outlets are known for having low-performing employees, and I always aim to stand out from that stereotype. I like to get to know my customers, what they need, and ask if I can make further suggestions. Most of the time, my customers love the added input and help. This approach also makes my days more fun because I am making genuine connections with people versus treating them like just another customer."

"One thing that sets me apart from other teachers is that I book a one-on-one meeting with the parents of my students at the very start of the school year. We create a learning plan that will work for all. I also ask questions that position me as the expert and have the parents fully committed to their child's learning. The rest of the year is better when communication goals become established from the start."

First impressions are everything, and there are many ways to impact a new client significantly. You can start by being attentive in meetings, researching the company before your initial appointment, and having an enthusiastic attitude towards your clients' goals. When you answer, be sure to give a detailed overview of how you would approach making a good impression on a new client. If you have some work experience, consider telling a brief story of when you built a relationship with a new client. You should include specific details of how you developed a relationship with this person. At the end of your response, remember to connect your client relationship-building skills and how they will benefit the hiring company, should you be the successful candidate.

Since this question begins with 'How would you...' it is acceptable to use a hypothetical story example, giving a general overview of how you would react in this situation. However, if you want to use a real-life example, try forming a response using the STAR method. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result. Organizing your response using this framework will ensure that you provide the interviewer with the right amount of information and detail to form a compelling answer.

Avoid providing an answer that is too simple such as saying, 'I would approach making a good impression on a new client by being nice to them.' Dig deeper and provide details that show you have a keen sense of what your customers need.