Published: Feb 16, 2009 @ 8.04

What to wear to an interview?

At an interview, you have to present yourself as the best person for the job. You can throw a good CV at them. You can respond with perfect answers. You can be confidence personified, but if you do not turn up looking the part, then you can kiss good bye all your hard work.

Think about it, it’s the easiest part of the interview. Knowing how to dress is child’s play. But it goes a long way.

All you have to do is follow these simple steps, and you are part of the way there already:

For men:

• Have a shower and a shave, cleanliness is very important.
• Choose a classic cut suit, your interviewers are not interested in a fashion statement.
• Iron your shirt; pick out a tie that matches.
• Keep the colours sombre, so the interviewer can concentrate on you.
• Shine your shoes.

For women:

• Avoid an unnecessary amount of make-up, stick to natural colours to subtly enhance your features.
• If you have a trouser suit/skirt and jacket, then wear it.
• Avoid showing off too much skin, especially on your chest or your legs.
• Modest heels look smarter than flat shoes and are more professional than high heels.
• Again, bright colours and excessive jewellery distract the interviewers from your words.

Remember, it is always better to dress up than dress down. Do not be embarrassed if you are the smartest dressed in the waiting room, that means you already have one up on your competition.

However, your attire must still make a statement. It needs to stand out in a professional manner, and compliment your CV as well as your speech.

Stepping into smart clothing gets you in the mood, boosts your confidence and helps prepare you mentally for the difficult interview process.

Published: Dec 1, 2009 @ 11.04

Prepare, prepare, prepare

 

Interviews…  The very word can strike fear in some.  So luckily for you, we are here to help you through, step by step.

Research the company

There is absolutely no point going to an interview if you know nothing about the company in which you have applied to.  Turning up at Burger King and asking for a Mc Flurry is hardly going to impress, so why would your future boss be?

Having been asked to an interview must mean you impressed on your initial application, so return to what you know and the research you conducted before applying for the position.  Exactly what does the company do, produce (if anything) and who is their primary target audience?

Looking at recent clients or projects can help identify key trends in the organisation and give you an insight into what they are looking for or hoping to achieve in the future.

Plan your day

Turning up late can mean an automatic dismissal – so plan your day down moment.  How long does it take to get there?  How much traffic is there?  Are there any alternate routes in case the bus/train/taxi is late?

Lay out your “interview” outfit the night before (almost like your first day of school all over again) to make sure you don’t end up faffing around in the morning.  Make sure your mobile is charged the night before and that you have contact numbers should any emergencies arise.  Letting them know why you’re running behind is better than not turning up at all.

Preparing your day in advance will make sure you keep your cool.  Turning up on time is not only expected at interview level but will let interviewers know you are calm, collected and organised.

Be yourself, don’t sell yourself

Although you’ll want your employer to like you don’t oversell yourself.  Saying you want nothing more in the world than to have your chosen job may sound good on paper, but in the real world does it hint at a lack of ambition or even falseness?

Trying to impress your interviewer without overdoing it may take a bit of practice, so ask a close friend to run through the process with you.  Think of your existing skills, your enthusiasm, even your determination to succeed and, most importantly, how you have used them.

Repetitive phrases, such as “I’m right for this role because I’m hard working, determined…” etc can paint a somewhat boring picture, so put the words into pictures by describing a previous event that has used these skills.  Recruiters want to know what unique qualities you can bring to their company so spell it out for them.

Make yourself interesting

Prepare at least four questions to ask your interviewer at the end of the interview.  They will ask if you have any questions, so make sure you have some prepared in advance.  Not only will this make you seem interested in the company but it will also make sure you pay attention throughout so as not to repeat anything already said.

Three is the usual amount of questions expected, so by preparing four you will be ready for one of them to be answered throughout the interview.  Tailor the questions around your previous research into the company and make sure they are relevant.

Stay professional and calm throughout

Staying professional from the first to the last handshake it essential.  Remember to sit up straight, keep focussed and stay alert throughout.  No matter how well or bad you think it may be going, your body language can speak more words than your mouth can.

Refrain from yawning or fidgeting throughout and you may be on to a winner.  If you are interviewed by more than one person take time to address each, even if it’s only with a smile.

Learn something

Whether you felt the interview went well or not, make some notes about what you were comfortable with and what you need to work on.  No one is the perfect interviewee making everyone a work in progress.

If you were unsuccessful this time try contacting the company to ask for feedback.  Most are willing to provide it and can make indentifying key problem areas much easier.