Interview Tips Part 2

Interview Tips Part 2

3.  Dress for Success – Many people think they have this one down, but trust me not everyone does.  For most job interviews a suit is always the way to go, however that does not mean the it has to be black, plain, and with a neutral color button down shirt on underneath (however men this is the only way you can really go on shirts).  While you want to look sharp and professional, your outfit is the way to show some personality, so use it.  If you are interviewing at a more creative organization – for example graphic design firm etc. you can stand to be trendier, but I wouldn’t take this as an excuse to be more casual.  See ladies two outfits I put together one for a corporate environment and one for a more creative workplace in a separate post. 

For ladies stick to classic hair and make-up looks.  There are so many funky nail art trends happening now, but I personally believe they have no place in an interview and most corporate offices.  This doesn’t mean no colors, but stick to colors that have stayed popular over the years my favorites are red or mauve.    

Make sure your clothes fit you well, a cheap suit can suit can look great if it is tailored for you and an expensive suit can look like crap if it’s too tight or loose.  My husband went to a Catholic high school with a strict dress code.  Their advice was “if you have to ask, don’t wear it.”  If any of these questions cross your mind then try a different look.

            “Is this too tight?”

            “Am I showing too much cleavage?”

            “Does this match?”

            “Is this too short?”

Even if these really are not true, if it has crossed your mind you will probably continue to worry about it and headed to an interview you have enough things to fret over.

Men – you do have it much easier in this category, but still deserves some thought and attention.  I would stick with a neutral (preferably white shirt underneath your suit) with tie with a simple pattern and classic color (can’t go wrong with red).  Make sure your suit fits you well, all pieces are neatly pressed, and shoes shined.  Female interviewers are typically very observant about clothes, but from talking to male interviewers I find they can be more critical because they are used to abiding by the same rules they are judging you on.  Women have to be very wary on how tight clothes accentuate their body, but men can be guilty of that as well.  One of my funniest experiences in recruiting was when an amateur body builder/financial analyst interviewed for a job in a suit entirely too small for him.  His pants were so tight that he needed to empty his pockets of his keys, wallet, and phone when he sat down. 

4.  Get to the interview right on time.  – Obviously not late, but also do not walk in more than 5-10 minutes early.  However it is smart to arrive to the location much earlier than that.  When I was a recruiter in Charlotte it used to really yank my chain when people would sometimes show up 20-30 minutes early to the interview (I once had someone show up 45 minutes early).  The interviewee is not the only one that has to prep for the interview.  I would have notes about all of the candidates on my desk, maybe not have freshly applied lipstick, etc.  I would feel rude making an interviewee wait, but sometimes it was tough to get into the groove of an interview without my prep rituals.  Why it particularly annoyed me was the fact we had a coffee shop on the first floor of our building where they could have waited before coming up at a reasonable time.  For my recent interview at my new real estate agency, I got there 20 minutes early and took that time to sit in my car freshen up, breathe deeply, and look over my company notes (see tip 1).  When I walked in I felt ready and confident and exactly 5 minutes early.  Not to toot my own horn, but I walked out of the office with a job offer.

No matter how much time you allow for travel time, I would still do a dry-run if it is feasible.  Even with your Google Maps printout and your trusty GPS, the office can still be tricky to find and the dry run will insure that you figure it out before you’re dressed to the nines and nervous as hell.  Make sure you know exactly where to park and the door you are going to use to enter the building.

Even with all of your planning and good intentions things can still happen and interviewers understand that (or at least should).  Call as soon as you know you are going to be late.  In the age of cell phones there is no reason to not make someone aware of your tardiness.  Take a deep breath and continue to drive safely.  If you’re already late think about how late you would be after getting pulled over or worse in an accident.  When you get there sincerely apologize and do not let it throw off your rhythm in the interview.  If everything else is a slam dunk they would be stupid not to hire you due to someone else’s accident on the freeway.

5.  Be prepared with all the materials you could need. – Make sure you have a professional portfolio or notebook (that doesn’t look like you would use in English 101) and a working pen.  Have these items handy and after you shake hands with the interviewer set them up for yourself.  It may seem silly to get this specific, but I’ve seen countless times (especially women who have their supplies in their purses) in their initial nerves forget to ever take them out and use them to take notes.  No need to write down every word that comes out of the interviewer’s mouth, but jot done key points that will jog your memory of the conversation later.  Below are some reasons to take notes during an interview:

• It shows the interviewer that you are interested in what they are saying and learning more about the position and the company, in a way that merely nodding along just cannot
• You will save yourself from asked questions that have already been answered.  That is a clear indicator to the interviewer that you are not listening to them and implies you don’t care about what they have to say.
• It makes the interview feel more like a two way street and a meeting between professionals.  This for me makes me feel less nervous and I converse more comfortably.

Stay tuned…..