EmploymentDigest.net

Avoid Mistakes And Get Hired

Posted on 10. Oct, 2007 posted by Bill in Employment News

The employment market is growing increasingly competitive each year. After earning your degree or accumulating experience in a given field, you’ve decided that now’s the time to take on a new career challenge. Immediately make yourself more competitive by following a few simple guidelines.

Mastering the technique of selling yourself properly during an interview is critical to getting hired. It should come as no surprise that selling yourself commences even before you introduce yourself. Countless articles, books and seminars are devoted to demonstrating the proper manner in which to carry yourself, prepare and dress for an interview. Despite the availability of these resources, numerous applicants attend interviews without heeding any of this basic advice.

What Should I Wear?

An interview is not the appropriate time to be a cutting edge trendsetter. Lean toward more classic clothing. Avoid wearing a lot of jewelry or oversized pieces. Makeup should be kept to a minimum. Emphasize your features with softer more natural colors. The last thing you want to do is to appear as if you are going to a night club after the interview is over.

Two days before your interview, take time out for a full dress rehearsal. Carefully examine yourself in a full length mirror, if possible. This is the opportunity to check for loose buttons, hems, snagging zippers and the overall fit of your clothing.

It’s alright to be a little overdressed when going on an interview. The interviewer and other office employees that observe you in passing will conclude that you cared enough about the interview to put forth time and effort. It’s never okay to be under-dressed.

No matter what position you are aiming for, always look the part professionally. If you look like you fit in, the interviewer will need little imagination to visualize you working alongside them.

Perfume/Cologne

A fresh, just showered scent is pleasant and understated. If you feel absolutely compelled to wear a scent, apply perfume or cologne sparingly. Your interviewer is human and humans sometimes have allergies. It would be most unfortunate if your perfume or cologne triggers an allergic reaction in your interviewer. Should this occur, you will definitely leave an impression – one which may cost you a second interview.

Timing

The moment you step through the door your interview has begun. If you are impatient, curt or unfriendly to the receptionist, you’ve already significantly reduced your chances of being hired.

It’s a given that arriving late is taboo but arriving a half hour early is also a negative. Arriving too early often puts unnecessary pressure on the person you will be meeting with. Instead, arrive approximately ten minutes before your scheduled interview time, unless specifically asked to arrive earlier. In order to ensure that you enter the building ten minutes ahead of time, allow for more than ample travel time. This affords a few additional moments to collect your thoughts and relax in your car, prior to the interview.

Attitude Adjustment

Be positive! A sincere, positive, upbeat attitude is without a doubt always desirable anytime, as well as during an interview. If you are normally an angry, vindictive person, you may want to consider a position that doesn’t require you to work around many people. Better yet, take steps to improve your outlook on life. Otherwise, a home business may be a more natural fit for your personality.

Being too upbeat can also be a turn off. The interviewer may view you as not serious minded, too casual, annoying or less intelligent. Like most things, balance is key.

General Preparation

Thoroughly research the company you will be interviewing with. Read executive biographies, company history and most importantly become knowledgeable about what services or products said company offers. Attempt to get a feel for the office culture.

It is necessary to go prepared with questions about the company and position being interviewed for. It’s not impressive or endearing to be clueless. Be well versed in describing yourself as a person and as a professional that possesses the necessary qualifications for the position in question. If you genuinely want the job, do your homework by investing your time prior to ever being interviewed or hired.

Keep in mind, you are not only being interviewed but you are interviewing the company as well. Unless a professional match exists on both sides, you will either not get hired or if an offer is made, you will likely turn the offer down. If you end up taking a position you don’t feel comfortable with, odds are your tenure will be short lived or you’ll soon grow to be a disgruntled, resentful employee.

By following these guidelines and listening to yourself, the next interview which turns into a mutual professional match could realistically be your next job.

Do’s

 Arrive about 10 minutes early
 Wear polished, scuff free shoes
 Pumps with medium heel height
 Neatly groomed hair, nails & clothing – neutral make up, nail color and natural buffed nails
 Fresh Breath
 Great Attitude
 Study the company website, quiz yourself and then study it again
 Clothing should be dry cleaned or pressed
 Carry yourself with confidence (no slouching)
 Establish eye contact
 Thank the interviewer for his or her time
 Offer a complete and firm hand shake (It’s not the time to offer a bone crushing handshake grip, nor is it a positive to replicate a semi-conscious person)
 Send a thank you note to the interviewer
 Interview the company as well

Don’ts

 Wear provocative clothing
 Act or dress too casual
 Too much cologne/perfume/make-up
 Busy clothing fabrics
 Clothing which is too tight, binds or is simply uncomfortable
 Chew gum
 Act Silly
 Speak in slang
 Get too personal, strangers don’t typically want to know about your ex wife or your battle with dry skin.

Items to bring with you besides your resume, pen and notepad: Small mirror, Fingernail file, Safety pins, Tissues, Tooth pick

Have a unique edge at your next interview with Pocket Resume – visit http://www.colucards.com

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Tags: Employment News