dress sense
First impressions really do count and initially they are based on your appearance and whether you look the part. Of course this varies from job to job, and from business to business. For example long hair and an earring may look appropriate on a designer, however you rarely see this style of dress amongst senior customer facing sales staff. If you meet someone socially or at the work place, in a matter of seconds you are making judgements about that person and this is exactly the same for potential employers.
There is a thought that if an individual cannot dress in a professional manner for an interview, how are they going to perform in the role?
Commercial employers rarely state their thoughts on a suitable dress code for management roles within their organisations. However, there is normally an unspoken rule of what is acceptable and it is sensible to exceed those expectations in an interview scenario.
It's always best to stay on the safe side and dress conservatively for the occasion.
Both men and women should wear dark colours for the traditional interview look. The best suit colours to wear are blue and grey. Black If you do wear black, make sure to wear another colour near your face to soften the impact. As a rule, men and women should wear well-tailored suits, women can wear skirts but no more than three inches above the knee.
dressing for interview success quick tips
- ladies - always wear tights / stockings, even in hot, humid weather
- ladies - don't wear open-toed shoes, backless shoes or mules
- choose collared dress shirts or blouses (men: wear a tie); no turtlenecks
- go easy on the jewellery; one or two rings are okay; no nose rings, ankle bracelets, or bracelets/earrings that jangle
- nails should be neatly groomed
- leave leather jackets and blazers at home
- briefcases, handbags, and shoes should be conservative in colour, no reds, or designer prints; think inconspicuous
It's also important, when deciding how to dress for a interview, to study the employer company's dress code. Every company has a culture. Take your dress code cues from observing how their employees dress for work.
body language
Body language in an interview is very important, but doesn't always get the attention it deserves. After all, before a word has even been spoken, your body language will already have given people their first impression of you.
what type of person are you?
By using words you can explain what type of education you have received and what experience you have gained. You can also show through words that you know what you're talking about and you can answer questions to clarify matters.
At the same time however, your body language will also give out a lot more information. Based on your body language it can be seen if you come across as insecure or self-assured. Body language can show if your prone to stress. It can show how enthusiastic you are and if you are someone who will take their work seriously, but also someone who has a sense of humour and can enjoy a joke from time to time.
The interviewer will not only pay attention to what you say, but also to how you say it! Through becoming more aware of your own body language, but also through recognising the body language of others, you can definitely increase your chances of getting the job.
pay attention to time
It might be a cliché to talk about arriving in time for a job interview, but it is still important to bring it to your attention. Your attitude or attention to time will also send out non-verbal messages. It's much better to arrive way too early than even a little too late! If you are too early for your appointment you don't have to go in immediately. Sometimes it's better to walk around and familiarise yourself with your surroundings.
the meeting
When the interviewer comes to lead you to the interview area do not jump up immediately and offer this person a handshake. It's better to let the other person take the initiative. Shake hands firmly, but not too powerfully and look straight at the other person. After this you will be introduced to the (other) interviewers. During this introduction it is better to walk around the table to shake hands with them, instead of leaning over the table. With each greeting look directly at the other person, and say your name.
tune your posture
During your job interview try to adopt a posture that shows interest but still comes across as being relaxed. You can do this by sitting up straight in your chair at the beginning of the interview, with your back against the back of the chair. If you slouch or hang sideways in your chair, it might give the impression that you are not that interested in the job. However, sitting on the edge of your chair can come across as being a little tense and might give the impression that you feel uncomfortable.
You can change your body posture a little during the interview. For example, when someone says something it is good to turn a little with your shoulders towards this person and to lean forward a little. This shows an interest in what the other person is saying. You can emphasise this by tilting your head a little. It is also important to pay attention to the posture of your interview partners. In some cases you can achieve mutual tuning by adopting the same posture as the other person.
what to do with your hands
Just the same as when you are giving a presentation, many people often regard their hands as obstacles during a job interview rather than a useful means of communication. That is why people often ask what to do with their hands. In a difficult situation we are often inclined to fold our arms across our body. This helps to give us a more secure feeling. During a job interview it is better not to do this, because folding your arms can be interpreted as a defensive move. It is better to let your hands lie loosely on your lap or place them on the armrests of your chair. From these positions it's also easy to support your words with hand gestures.
movements: a dynamic interview?
Nodding your head while speaking is a good way of supporting your words or adding meaning to them. Hand movements can also help to liven up the interview. The fact that you dare to make movements with your hands during an interview might indicate that you feel at ease quickly. In most cases it is better not to make too many hand movements at the start of the interview but add them slowly throughout the interview. As regards this, pay attention to your interview partners as well: if they use their hands a lot to make things clear, you can definitely do this as well. When they don't make many movements, it is better if you don't either. Just the same as with body posture, it is important to tune your movements to those of the other person. Also pay attention to inadvertent movements that you may make sometimes due to nervousness. For example, shuffling with your feet or kicking against the leg of a table can be very irritating for other people. Drumming with your fingers or clicking with a pen also won't be a great contribution to the interview. So pay attention!
when should you look at whom?
During the job interview it is important to look at all the interview partners to an equal extent. By looking directly at the other person we are giving them a sign of trust.. When one of the interviewers explains something or poses a question, keep looking at this person for as long as he or she is speaking. This shows that you're listening. You can then nod to encourage him / her to continue talking. At the end of his/her question, he/she will keep looking at you and then tilt his head up a little to invite you to give an answer. When you answer a question, you will look first at the person who posed the question, but while you answer you should take turns looking at the other interview partners as well. You should direct yourself again to the person who posed the question when you want to emphasise something and at the end of your answer.
tension
Knowledge of body language can help you improve the mutual tuning during the interview. You can use this knowledge to hide your nervousness a little, but actually this is something you shouldn't worry about too much. Many applicants are nervous during an interview and of course they would much prefer not to let this nervousness show. However, it's not such a bad thing to be nervous. The interviewers will understand this. Your nervousness may even show that you feel this job is important to you. If you weren't nervous, and therefore sit a little nonchalant, it might indicate that you are not that interested. Also realise that the job interview is more than just a means for the employer to determine which of the candidates is most suitable for the job. The job interview especially is a moment of mutual acquaintance. It's a first meeting with people that you might soon work together with. Therefore the employer should actually be just as nervous as you!
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