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Interview Tips

Dress to Success

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Interview Tips

Preparing For Your Interview
The key to a successful interview is planning. The more planning you do in advance of the interview, the more likely it is that you'll walk away leaving a good impression and accomplishing your goals. So what are the steps you can take to plan for an ultimate interview?

  1. Do your homework. Spend as much time as you can learning and studying about the company, the people, the products and, if possible, the position you are hoping to get. A wealth of public data is available on the Internet. But you can also visit the library and search newspapers and trade publications. Double check all your resources and make sure that the facts you gather are current and correct.
  2. Be positive. Your attitude can mean the difference between success and failure. Stay focused on good things, and find ways to avoid saying anything negative about former employers or previous jobs.
  3. Be flexible. Gear your mindset to adapting to the changing pace and direction of your interview. In many cases, all of the advance preparation you do will fly right out the window the moment your interview begins, so make sure you are able and prepared to be agile and adept. This can show your comfort with change and ability to respond to quickly shifting conditions.
  4. Notice the details. Be sensitive to your surroundings and the style of your interviewer. Things you notice like office décor and general atmosphere can be clues to how you should best present yourself in tailoring your presentation.
  5. Do advance role-playing. Rehearse as much as you can in advance. Write down all the questions you think you might be asked and have answers prepared. Keep your responses focused on the target and be clear and concise. Stay within the bounds of your discussion topic and avoid providing a great deal of information that isn't relevant.
  6. Listen and ask. Show interest to your interviewer. Encourage him or her to share as many details as possible with you about the company and the job. Maintain eye contact and use body language that shows that you are relaxed and in-tune with your surroundings. Be engaging.
  7. Be relevant. Focus on your work history and personal experience that directly applies to the opportunity at hand. Make sure that you present a complete picture of your qualifications for the job. Avoid sharing personal details like religious affiliation or marital status that do not directly relate to your ability to perform in the position you are applying for.

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Dress For Success

This is an area that has become much more complicated in the past several years. Where suits and ties and dresses, skirts and slacks were once the norm in virtually all business environments, many companies are now much less formal. The problem is, there is often little or no correlation between the type of business and the accepted attire; many law firms are now “business casual” while there are software start-up firms that require shirts and ties.

Research and advance planning will help you understand the dress requirements of a prospective employer and plan your interview wardrobe accordingly. As a general rule, it is always a good idea to dress in the same manner as your interviewer. You want your valuable first impression to be a good one; your interviewer will make an assumption about who you are in the first few moments you are together.

A few tips:

  1. Get ready in advance. Lay out what you will wear the night before. Make sure everything is clean and neat.
  2. Shoes say it all. Be sure that your shoes are neat and polished and appropriate for the work you will do.
  3. Focus on personal hygiene. Neatly trimmed nails and a professional haircut or hairstyle can make all the difference.
  4. Less is more. Don't overdo jewelry or accessories. Avoid heavy aftershave, perfume or excessive makeup.
  5. Overall, stick to the conservative side. Most experts say that your clothing should not really be noticed. You want the focus to be on you, not what you are wearing.
  6. Stay up to date. Toss out old clothes or have them altered. Look like you are at least aware of recent trends and pop culture. But be yourself, too.
  7. Do not carry gum, coffee or soda or media player, and cover tattoos. Take along a breath mint and use it just prior to the interview.

For men:

  • Suit – solid color, preferably dark
  • Long-sleeved shirt
  • Conservative shoes with dark socks
  • Minimal jewelry
  • Neat, recent haircut
  • Portfolio or briefcase

For women:

  • Suit or skirt – generally dark
  • Matching blouse
  • Conservative shoes and neutral pantyhose
  • Well-manicured nails
  • Neat, professional hairstyle
  • Minimal makeup and jewelry

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