|
The last article discussed how to prepare for a job interview. This one will focus on all aspects of presentation: sight, sound, smell, touch, and time. Impeccable presentation requires you to address each of these categories.
Sight:
The first judgment your interviewer will make about you is likely to be based on his impression of you at first sight. What you wear, how you do your hair, the condition of your showing skin and nails, as well as your overall appearance all affect this. For men, a suit is the best bet. It is required or expected in some cases, and in situations where it is not it is still good form to wear one anyways. As far as suits go, conservative is best. Gray or black is preferred for the suit, black or dark brown for the shoes. Avoid bright shirts and flashy ties. For women, choose a suit or dark pants and a conservative, long-sleeved shirt or blouse. Make sure your hair is clean and well groomed. Get a haircut before the interview if necessary. Shave or trim facial hair the morning of the interview to ensure a clean-cut look. As for your skin and nails, make sure everything is clean and well trimmed. Long-nails are a pet-peeve of many people and are simple to correct. If you eat before the interview, check a mirror before going in so make sure you have everything off your face. Additionally, take out any facial or body piercings, and try not to leave any tattoos exposed. A good night’s sleep will do wonders for your general appearance, minimizing any bags or coloration under your eyes. If you have red, itchy eyes, buy some eye drops to use beforehand.
Sound:
The thing your interviewer learns about you after your looks is what you sound like. You will be talking throughout the interview, and as important as what you say is how you say it. Tiredness, lack of preparation, and nervousness can induce stutters and hesitation, as well as the infamous ‘umm’. You want to articulate your words clearly and smoothly, without hesitation. Following the previously outlined steps for preparation will increase your ability to do this. Besides articulation, you want to be sure to speak loudly enough that the interviewer is not straining to hear your voice. Be conscious of your surroundings: if the interview is in a closed room, it will be easy to make sure you do this. If the interview is outside, on a work site, in an open office area, or in some other location where there is noticeable ambient sound, be aware that your interviewer needs to hear you over this. Be careful not to overcompensate of course, you do not want your interviewer to think you are shouting at him/her. Aim to speak firmly, audibly, and articulately.
Smell:
The next thing your interviewer will notice about you is if you have any strong odor on you as you approach for a handshake. Avoid smoking or being around smoke. This is a strong, often offensive odor that some people are actually allergic to. If you absolutely must smoke, be sure to wash your hands and freshen your breath before the interview. On the topic of breath, be sure to brush your teeth and/or use mouthwash before the interview, but be wary of gum. It can hinder your speaking ability, annoy the interviewer, and make distracting sounds. Also avoid any strong colognes or perfumes. If you choose to wear one, apply it conservatively. You never know if your interviewer has a sensitive nose or is bothered by strong scents.
Touch:
Inevitably you will end up shaking hands with your interviewer. Often they will shake your hand before and after, so do not look foolish by being caught off-guard. Shake their hand firmly, but do not crush it.
Time:
Part of your presentation is when you choose to present yourself to be interviewed. Drive to the location of the interview at least once before it to make sure you are not delayed by getting lost or underestimating traffic. Always try to arrive early to allow extra time for delays along the way. If there are none, an early arrival is never a bad thing.
If you address these five aspects of your presentation you will enable yourself to get the most out of the interview. Also, they, along with preparation, will allow you to make the best first impression possible. A bad first impression is tremendously hard, often impossible, to recover from, no matter how good the interview goes.
Click Here if you have a funny story about bad presentation at an interview to share or if you would like to read others'.
RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE
You must be logged in
to recommend articles
|
