If you've ever been for a job interview or even on a first date, you've no doubt heard plenty of advice about first impressions and how much they matter.

What about when you're meeting potential friends for the first time? Keeping in mind that just about anybody, from a new neighbour to the lady behind at the check-out in the supermarket can be a potential friend, first impressions are equally as important when you're just out and about, going about your daily life.

When we first meet a new person our sub-conscious mind automatically starts computing a variety of signals from which we draw our conclusions. No doubt you've met people and immediately felt uncomfortable with them. But, if asked, you wouldn't be able to say why you didn't like that particular person