12 Embarrassing First Impression Mistakes You Probably Don't Even Know You're Making

Many people unknowingly and unnecessarily put others off when first meeting them.

A woman with long brown hair sits in a restaurant, smiling and reaching forward as if to shake hands. She is wearing a black blazer over a light-colored blouse. The background is softly lit with warm lights.

As the saying goes: you never get a second chance to make a first impression. If you display any of these behaviors during your first meeting with someone, you’re likely embarrassing yourself out of a second one.

1. Offering your life story within the first few minutes of meeting someone.

A woman with curly hair in a white blouse is smiling and engaging in conversation with a man wearing a plaid cap and a brown jacket. They are standing indoors near a window.

When you’re first introduced to someone, the only details necessary to exchange are your name, preferred pronouns (if desired), and a relevant detail in context to the situation, like “I’m Dana, and I’m running the merch table.” This isn’t the time to share a list of your medical diagnoses or personal challenges.

2. Getting too close, too quickly.

Two men in white shirts embrace warmly. One man wears glasses and a black wristband, smiling as they hug. The background is softly blurred, highlighting their friendly interaction.

For most people, a handshake or nod is ideal for interacting with someone new. Diving in and trying to hug or cheek-kiss someone you’ve just met can be incredibly alienating for a lot of folks. Let the other person show you how they’d like to be greeted, and mirror that behavior accordingly.

3. Being sycophantic.

A woman in a strapless red dress is smiling and holding a notepad while being photographed by several photographers. The background is dark, and there are bright lights behind her. She appears to be at a formal event or press conference.

It’s great to admire and respect a celebrity or high-ranking person, but try to avoid lavishing praise on them if you ever get a chance to meet them in person. It’s both awkward and uncomfortable to be a captive audience for someone who goes on about how great you are.

4. Making jokes that others might find offensive.

Three friends are sitting outdoors at a restaurant table, enjoying food and drinks. Two women and a man engage in lively conversation. The table is filled with plates of food, and there is a sunny atmosphere with palm trees in the background.

We don’t all have the same sense of humor, and what may be hilarious to you might be horrifying to someone else. This is especially true if your humor tends to be dark or shocking. Your idea of hilarity might be downright traumatic to someone, so keep it reined in.

5. Interrupting.

Two men are having a conversation in a bright room. One is gesturing with his hands, wearing a plaid shirt, and glasses. The other has his arms crossed, wearing a pink shirt. Behind them is a wooden wall with green plants.

When you first meet someone new, you won’t be used to their usual speech cadence and thus might accidentally interrupt them. If it happens once and you apologize, that’s cool—you’re learning, and can focus on listening more than you speak. Problems arise, however, if you keep interrupting and not paying attention.

6. Offering flat answers instead of keeping the conversation going.

If someone asks what you do, and you simply tell them without asking what they do in return, that’s essentially a conversation ender. You may not be intentionally kiboshing this new connection, but behaving as though you’re not interested in them may send them off in search of more captivating conversation.

7. Asking very personal questions.

Two women having a conversation outdoors. The woman on the left is facing away from the camera, and the woman on the right, with long dark hair and wearing a light-colored jacket, appears to be reacting with a surprised or confused expression.

Only ask questions that are polite, and relevant to the circumstances around you. Don’t ask them why they don’t have kids, what their political affiliations are, and so on. You might be curious, but allow them to broach these topics if and when they want to share them with you.

8. Bragging.

Two people standing with their electric scooters on a paved path in a park. One wears a white shirt and dark pants, the other wears a gray shirt and shorts. They are engaged in conversation, with greenery and a modern structure in the background.

It’s good to be proud of your achievements, but listing off all your accolades isn’t going to win you any fans. It’ll make you come across as rather full of yourself, and will alienate the people you’re trying to befriend—even at a new workplace. Modesty is always the better approach.

9. Self-deprecation.

A smiling woman wearing glasses and a blue sweater sits at a desk, engaging in conversation with another woman in a white shirt, who has her back to the camera. A man in a red jacket stands blurred in the background. The scene appears to be in a casual setting.

Some people use self-deprecation as a means of lightening awkward situations, and first meetings can certainly make some people feel awkward. That said, making too many negative remarks about yourself can be quite trying, and gives the impression of low self-esteem, as well as potential neediness with regard to reassurance.

10. One-upping the story they’re telling you.

Two women engaged in a conversation in a bright, white space with a glass-paneled ceiling. They are smiling, one holding a piece of paper, both wearing professional attire. The image is taken from a low angle, emphasizing the open and airy environment.

If someone’s sharing a story with you that they seem passionate about, this isn’t the time to get competitive. Even if you experienced something similar (bigger, better, more popular), keep quiet about it and simply express encouragement and appreciation. You’ll get to share your own experience in time, so be patient.

11. Call them by a diminutive form of their name (or even a nickname) without being invited to do so.

A woman with long brown hair and wearing a brown cardigan is seated outdoors, looking attentively towards a bald man in a blue shirt whose back is to the camera. They appear to be engaged in a conversation. A blurred fence and greenery are visible in the background.

When a person tells you their name, that’s the moniker they’d like you to address them with. Don’t shorten it unless invited to do so, and definitely don’t give them a pet name. For example, if someone says “My name is Elizabeth”, don’t say “Hi Liz!” or “Okay Becks!”. Just address them as requested.

12. Commenting on their body.

A woman with wavy hair and glasses, wearing a pink jacket, smiles while holding a to-go coffee cup and sitting at an outdoor café table across from a man in a green jacket and brown hat, who also has a to-go coffee cup.

We never know what’s going on with someone else’s life or health, so making comments about their physical form—even if it seems positive—might be terribly embarrassing. For instance, you might compliment someone’s slender build only to find out they have a wasting disease, much to everyone’s dismay.