Before leaving for the interview, be sure that you have good directions and the phone numbers and names of the people you’ll be meeting with. You should also bring the following items with you to the interview:
• Several unfolded copies of your resume and cover letter
• A notepad and pen (for taking notes during the interview)
• A list of professional references
• Examples of your work, such as writing samples or clippings (taking care that these don’t breach the confidentiality of previous employers)
Body Language
The first minutes of the interview are the most important. A recruiter begins sizing up your potential the instant you walk into the room. If you make a bad impression from the start, you may be ruled out immediately, and the interviewer may pay little attention to your performance during the rest of the interview. An excellent initial impression, on the other hand, will put a favorable glow on everything else you say during the rest of the interview—and could well encourage the recruiter to ask less demanding questions.
How can you ensure that you make a terrific first impression? The easiest answer is to be sure you’re dressed well. When the recruiter meets you, he or she will notice your clothes and grooming first. Nothing other than impeccable grooming is acceptable. Your attire must be professional and squeaky clean.
Your body language will also speak volumes, even before you and the interviewer exchange a word. Any recruiter will unconsciously pick up on and react to the subtle signals of body language. Here are some important things to think about:
Body Language
The first minutes of the interview are the most important. A recruiter begins sizing up your potential the instant you walk into the room. If you make a bad impression from the start, you may be ruled out immediately, and the interviewer may pay little attention to your performance during the rest of the interview. An excellent initial impression, on the other hand, will put a favorable glow on everything else you say during the rest of the interview—and could well encourage the recruiter to ask less demanding questions.
How can you ensure that you make a terrific first impression? The easiest answer is to be sure you’re dressed well. When the recruiter meets you, he or she will notice your clothes and grooming first. Nothing other than impeccable grooming is acceptable. Your attire must be professional and squeaky clean.
Your body language will also speak volumes, even before you and the interviewer exchange a word. Any recruiter will unconsciously pick up on and react to the subtle signals of body language. Here are some important things to think about:
• Do you smile when you meet?
a job candidate for a bit of nervous behavior—but they will pay close attention to how you hold up under pressure. Displaying excessive nervousness can easily eliminate you from further consideration.
One good way to overcome preinterview jitters is to exercise positive thinking. If you’re feeling nervous about an upcoming interview, imagine in detail what the experience will be like: Think of what you’ll say, the questions you’ll be asked, and how you’ll answer them. Picture yourself responding calmly, effectively, and in a controlled manner. This type of mental rehearsing won’t guarantee success, but it should help you feel more optimistic and self-confident, which will undoubtedly enhance your final presentation.
Above all, you should practice interviewing as much as you can. You’ll become more confident and your answers will become more polished with each interview you have.
Knowing what to wear on the day of your interview is vitally important. Some information can be found in books and articles and some can be had by asking friends and acquaintances. But the best way of all to learn about appropriate attire is to go to the workplace and observe what the employees are wearing. Watch people coming into the building in the morning or out at night. If there are elevators, ride them, up and down, two or three times. If there is a company cafeteria, go have a cup of tea and see if you can identify people who are doing the kind of work you want to do, just by the way they dress.
Restaurants in the area will give you an idea of what’s considered proper dress. So will professional meetings, service club lunches, and trade shows. Pay more attention to the professionals in the booths at these shows than to the browsers in the aisles.read more
