Plan Ahead
Make sure you know the exact location of the interview and the correct
pronunciation of the interviewer's name. Always leave plenty of extra
time to allow for transportation delays or mishaps. If you are late,
it can conjure up negative thoughts about your character and your
enthusiasm for the job.
Plan on arriving about 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment
time. This will give you an opportunity to settle yourself, use the
restroom and complete any necessary application or forms. The job
seeker who makes the best overall impression will be the one that
ultimately gets the job. Make the right common sense decisions and
you will get your interview off on the right track. Always
try to call if you think you will not make it on time.
Bring the correct
paper work
At the you schedule the interview, ask if they need to see an particular
documents. Depending on the type of job, a portfolio or a sample of
your work may be required.
Also, make sure you bring the name, address and telephone number of
two to three references. Sometimes this information is asked for on
the application or at the conclusion of the interview.
It's always nice to be prepared and bring extra copies of your resume
and cover letter for those who may not have had opportunity to see
them prior.
See Getting Organized
First
Impressions
Like it or not, first impressions count a great deal. In fact it has
been estimated that interviewers form opinions about the prospective
employee within the first 30 seconds of the interview. If the initial
impression that you make is negative, your chances of success are
slim even if the rest of the interview goes well.
Since interviewers tend to be very conscious of dress and appearance,
it is wise to adhere to the following guidelines:
For Women:
Wear a professional dress or skirt,
stylish blouse and jacket, or suit. Wear colors that flatter
and avoid very busy prints. Choose coordinating shoes with a
moderate heel. Neutral stockings are the norm. Use make-up in
moderation, and keep jewelry to a minimum. Make sure your hair
is neatly combed and does not hide your eyes. This is important
for establishing rapport during the interview.
For Men:
Wear a blue or grey business
suit (a conservative pattern such as a stripe or glen plaid
is also acceptable), with light colored shirt and coordinating
tie. Wear black shoes and socks; no sneakers or athletic shoes.
Hair should be neatly combed and kept fairly short. Keep jewelry
to a minimum.
Generally, a good rule of thumb is to dress a little more formally
than you would expect to dress on a normal day on the job.
Waiting for
the Interview
While waiting, try to observe the office environment. How do co-workers
interact? How are employees dressed? Is this a place in which you
could see yourself working? Use the extra time to either review organizational
literature or collect your thoughts.
Remember that support staff may be observing your actions, so this
is not the time to let down your guard.
