You’ve been offered that all important job interview. How do you prepare? How do you dress? How do you shine?
During this time of change, a lot of people are considering a change of career or unfortunately are having that choice forced upon them. Virtually Smart Ltd have begun a series of articles to help support & guide those seeking or finding themselves looking for alternative employment. This week, we are going to focus on appearances at interviews & some ideas to get that new job.
Outward appearances can & do leave lasting impressions. Societies are very quick to judge a person based on their attire & the way they conduct themselves. However, the clothes we wear, where we wear them & their purpose, all have a definite meaning when it comes to the world of work.
The idea of donning a new outfit or a ‘costume’ & becoming someone different, is something which is seen in business a lot of the time. Whether you have a corporate uniform to wear, or an expectation of a dress code; outward appearances can change other people’s perceptions of us in an instant.
You’ve got the interview.
You spent hours on your application, your CV is a glowing representation of your career to date & you’ve been offered that all important job interview. A job interview is an opportunity for a potential employer to not only get to know if you are suitable for the position at hand, but more importantly, to see if they feel you will fit in with their team, their ethos & if you will be an asset to their company.
How to prepare for an interview.
Interviews can be a daunting experience & can create a lot of anxiety for the interviewee. Therefore, being prepared can give you an edge.
One of the ways in which you can feel more confident in an interview situation, is to do your homework on the company you are being interviewed for. Read up on their story, their company products/services & their ethos.
Ensuring you understand the necessities of the position you are being interviewed for & how you skills set can fit with the job description, is paramount. Always makes notes about where your previous experiences can & do fit with the roles expectations & how your skills set could enhance that.
Always know who you are being interviewed by & make sure you know if it is an individual or an interview panel. Walking into a room where you are met with three or more people on an interview panel & you were only expecting one; can put you on the back foot.
Make sure you have some questions to ask at the end of the interview, because you will always be asked if you have any additional questions. You could ask about HR, Pensions, where the business sees itself in five years, do they have an in-house training programme, etc. Whatever it is, make sure you have something to ask the interviewer. This shows you are already thinking as part of a team & that you are keen.
Interview attire.
The fundamental thing to remember in any interview situation, is that you are being judged from the moment you arrive. What you are wearing & how you conduct yourself in those first few seconds, could be a deal breaker.
Whether you are being interviewed for a job in a coffee shop, as a teacher, corporate lawyer or a CEO; you should always endeavour to either wear a full suit, or at the very least, be smartly dressed. The old adage ‘dress to impress’ could not be more appropriate in this context. Wearing jeans & t-shirt, or a hoodie pulled up over your head, will create completely the wrong impression. Likewise, skinny or ripped jeans, grubby sneakers, the list is endless.
Interview body language (physical interaction interview).
In addition to the attire you choose for your interview, your body language speaks volumes. Over 90% of human communication is based on body language alone & a mere 7% is verbal. Therefore, walking into an interview with your hands in your pockets or your arms folded, will always create a barrier between you & a potential employer.
Remember, shoulders back & extending a handshake toward your interviewer announcing your name & that it is a pleasure to meet them; will help you stand out from the other candidates instantly.
Interview body language (Online/Zoom interaction interview).
To meet the challenges set by the Covid19 crisis, a lot of meetings & interviews are taking place online or via a platform such as Zoom. This can change how you interact with the interviewer & likewise how they interact with you too.
Zoom meetings have enabled people across the globe to remain connected. However, there are a few fundamental elements of human interaction missing through a Zoom meeting.
The ability to shake hands with an interviewer has obviously been lost. Therefore, your presence online has to be assertive once the meting commences (without being arrogant) to adjust for the lack of handshake.
Eye contact is an essential human interaction method & can allow any human to learn a lot about the person they are communicating with. Zoom meetings pose challenges here, as you cannot always focus on the other persons eyes. The best tip here is to try & focus on the screen as much as you can & be guided by the interviewer’s movements. Whatever you do, try not to fidget too much as this will add to the anxiety of the situation.
Know your craft.
If you have got through the application sift, been offered an interview, then a potential employer has clearly seen you have something to offer with regards to the employment opportunity advertised. Therefore, know your craft.
When you are in the interview, let the scenario allow your skills, your experiences & your life choices shine through. Do not shy away from your experience, your qualifications or any volunteering work you have undertaken, travel, sports anything at all which can present you as a rounded person who would be an asset to the company interviewing you.
Virtually Smart Ltd have a variety of different employment based mentoring & coaching packages to suit everyone. Whether you need help with a CV review/reformat, need some interview coaching or are looking for mentoring to help you change careers; Helena Parrott – VA/Director of Virtually Smart Ltd is here to help you. Contact us today on T: 07954 994769
Written by Katy-Jane for & on behalf of Virtually Smart Ltd
