Make
a good first impression
Appearance is perhaps the most critical
element of building a positive first impression. Employers
assume that what they see is what they’ll get if they
hire your candidate, so make sure that what they see is a
consummate professional. Understand that dressing professionally
is one of the rules of the business game. Don’t expect
to win the game if your break that rule.
Pay attention to details
Interviewers notice the little things.
Sloppy manicures, missing buttons, scuffed shoes, stained
lapels or snagged stocking are interpreted as signs that the
candidate isn’t detail-oriented. So make sure your entire
outfit is impeccably clean and neat. For women, makeup is
often a downfall. Keep it subtle.
No cologne or perfume
Nearly all of the interviewers I surveyed
mentioned cologne-overkill as one of the biggest gaffes made
by both male and female job candidates. In fact, many interviewers
rated this as their number-one gripe! It’s nearly impossible
to tell how strong an odour your own perfume or cologne is
emitting. What seems like a pleasant whiff of scent to you
may overpower someone else. Don’t risk it. Another smell-related
note: If you’re a smoker, avoid smoking in the hours
before your interview. At the very least, don’t smoke
in your interview outfit. Employers generally regard smoking
as an undesirable habit, and cigarette odours cling to clothes
for hours.
Watch your body language
As they’re forming an impression
of you, interviewers also observe your body language for clues
about your personality, credibility and confidence. Here’s
a rundown of the most common body-language signals and what
they mean to interviewers.
Look them in the eye
In North American culture, the ability
to look someone in the eye is interpreted as a sign of honesty.
For that reason, interviewers react negatively to job candidates
who can’t maintain a reasonable amount of eye contact.
Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake
Again, because of cultural stereotypes,
someone who has a firm handshake is regarded as confident
and authoritative. Even though a handshake may seem like a
small element on which to base a decision about someone’s
character, interviewers really do read a lot into it.
Don’t Fidget
Be careful that your body language doesn’t
betray your nervousness during your interviews. Avoid these
mannerisms that interviewers perceive as signs of nervousness:
Leg kicking.
Touching your hair repeatedly.
Placing your hand near your mouth or around
your face as you talk.
Clearing your throat continually.
Tapping your fingers or (worse) cracking
your knuckles.
Playing with your jewellery or frequently
adjusting your glasses. If you feel your body getting out
of control, try focusing on your breathing:
Taking steady, deep breaths will help
you relax. It’s also good to take a short walk before
your interview to burn off some of that nervous energy.
Sit forward in your chair
Interviewers take note of how candidates
sit during the interview. Candidates who slump in their chairs
or appear too relaxed are perceived as either unconfident
or unmotivated or both. Candidates who sit up straight and
lean a bit forward in their chairs are perceived as attentive
and interested in the job. But also – don’t lean
on or throw yourself across the interviewers desk.
Respect the rules of interview etiquette
Just as there are rules of etiquette for
social interactions, there are rules of etiquette for the
interaction we call the job interview. Although they may seem
unimportant to you, these rules are very important to interviewers.
Employers assume that if you don’t know anything about
interview etiquette, you may not understand the rules of everyday-business
etiquette, either.
Be on time
One of the basic laws of interview etiquette
– and one that’s broken with surprisingly regularity
– is to arrive on time. Allow plenty of extra time to
get to your interview; you never know when a traffic jam or
other transportation catastrophe is going to occur. If you
rum late because of some unavoidable problem, call ahead to
let the interviewer know. Apologise profusely and ask whether
the interviewer would prefer to reschedule.
Remember that you’re the guest
Interview etiquette also says that you
are the guest and the interviewer is the host. So don’t
sit down until the interviewer invites you to do so. Don’t
plop your briefcase down on the interviewer’s desk,
and don’t start fingering any office knickknacks, even
if it’s one of those inviting little stress-relief gizmos.
If you spy family pictures on the interviewer’s desk,
resist the urge to comment, even though you might naturally
do so if you were visiting that person’s home. Raising
the issue of families and children is something you want to
avoid in an interview.
Don’t chew gum or eat
Don’t have anything in your mouth
during the interview. That includes mints or gum. If the interviewer
offers you a cup of coffee or other beverage, say that you
will join them if they are having – refrain if they
are not.
Don’t dismiss anyone
Be friendly, polite and respectful toward
everyone you meet, from the receptionist at the front door
to the interviewer’s secretary. There’s a good
chance that all of these people will be asked to offer an
opinion about you. So treat every encounter as a “silent
interview.”
Be enthusiastic
Nearly all of the hiring managers who
have shared their insights with me said that one of the first
things they notice is the amount of enthusiasm a job candidate
displays. Many said it was the most important element in whether
they left the interview with a positive impression of the
candidate. Sell yourself with confidence After you create
that first impression, you must reinforce it with a strong
sales presentation. You must show the interviewer that you
not only can look and act the part, but that you also have
the skills and experience to solve the company’s problems.
Shelley Worth Worth Personnel Group: Employment
Agency Toronto http://www.worthpersonnel.com/tips.php
http://www.worthpersonnel.com
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