The point of dressing yourself well is to leave behind an impression of yourself as well groomed and professional. Nothing does this as much as the clothes you wear, the fragrance you wear and the colours you wear. With conservative colours and clothes you are in the safe zone with most people whereas a daring fashionable look could just disqualify you for too much attitude of the wrong kind. Some of the things for female applicants that are to be avoided are: too much jewellery – remove any visible piercings except discreet earrings;
brightly coloured clothes or nail polish;
chewed, unsightly nails;
skirts that are too short and clothes that are too tight or revealing;
accessories that are too colourful or floral; Inappropriate shoes (leave those killer Jimmy Choos with the fourinch spikes at home);
collarless shirts, etc; strong perfume. And for guys: pale coloured suits;
suit, collar and no tie combo; rolled up sleeves; tattoos on display; overpowering aftershave;
brown shoes with any colour suit except dark brown;
always wear a black belt unless you are wearing a brown suit; white socks with any outfit!! (This is a golden rule for life: unless you are taking part in sport, there is no room in life for white socks.) sandals or any type of open-toed shoe. These all just go to prove that you do not really care about the job and all you are worried is about your own personal attitude, which may not be a great advertisement to someone who is looking for a colleague who is going to fit in. Once you’ve got the job there will be plenty of time to assess the ‘real’ dress code of the organisation. Now what is it that you must wear? Colours that are suitable are the traditional blue and grey. Blacks and dark browns are fine as well, but are less conservative than blue and grey. Whatever the role is, remember organisations do want disciplined, professional, responsible people in their jobs and it is best that you reflect that in your attire and attitude. White shirts, plain, striped or small patterned tie and jacket are de rigueur for guys, while for ladies, it’s best to stick to a business suit if you can or alternatively a demure jacket/skirt/trousers combination work best. In all cases, never wear brand new clothes. You don’t want to be sitting down to the embarrassing sound of a too-tight seam on your trousers parting company or be near to tears because those new shoes really are a tight fit! I know, I know, it sounds like advice from two centuries ago, but believe me, most interviewers are conservative in outlook and do actually believe this stuff. As they are the ones with all the power and you are playing in their back garden, you need to adapt YOU to fit them, not the other way around.
You are trying to make the interview as memorable for good reasons as you can, so to that end: Do not eat garlic for 48 hours before the interview. Do not smoke for an hour before hand. If you do, make sure you are able to wash your hands and freshen your breath before you go in. Do not ever, ever, EVER chew gum!
WHAT SHOULD I TAKE WITH ME? The answer to this will depend on the role and perhaps whether or not you will be required to do a presentation. I will cover presentations in the next section. It is a good idea to take a copy of your CV with you for your own reference. I have seen many candidates fumble and splutter when asked to talk through the CV simply through the pressure of the occasion. Unfortunately, a candidate who simply waffles or prevaricates at this time often comes across as ‘shifty’ or suspect. By having a copy to hand, you can glance at it and you will be surprised just how effective a prompt a peripheral glimpse of a past employer’s name or an old job title is! Do you have any, easy-to-read documentation that backs up your claims of success in the past? For example, you may wish to take copies of annual appraisals which show you in a good light. As these tend to be lengthy documents, highlight the narrative comments of your line and functional manager for the interviewer. If time allows they will read these, as they are much more insightful than formal references as many employers these days only supply basic, factual information on an employee’s time with them for fear of litigation. If you can, take hard-copy examples of work that you have done particularly if it is new or innovative. Do not, under any circumstances, plagiarise anyone else’s work! Also have consideration for copyright issues and do not take controlled documents with you without the appropriate permissions. Again, time is the likely deciding factor for whether or not the interviewers will look at these. Often, it may even be the interviewers’ curiosity that prompts them to ask what it is you have brought with you. It is a good idea to place anything you have brought to the interview in plain sight and to one side of the desk or table you are sitting at. If the interviewers have set the room up in a more casual manner, e.g. with their chairs at 45 degrees to you, then place it at your feet on the side that faces them. If possible utilise clear-covered folders rather than have them within a posh leather folio. It is a good idea to take a notepad and pen with you too. At the outset of the interview ask if it is all right for you to take notes during the employer’s input as you may wish to ask questions based on what they say.
PRINCIPLE
When you first enter the room make sure you have good posture and make eye contact with everyone in the room. As you are introduced to everyone, give a firm (not too firm) handshake. If you are prone to sweaty palms, make sure you discreetly wipe them before you commence shaking hands. Scan the room layout once only and maintain eye contact with the lead or only interviewer. Look alert and wait to be asked to sit down. If you are offered a tea or coffee, politely decline. Its only another thing that can go wrong – like spilling it down yourself or worse still knocking it over!
Three rules of behaviour in the interview are professionalism professionalism, and professionalism! That’s not to say you can’t use humour where appropriate, but remember, it’s not a comedy audition and stay well away from areas of humour that could remotely be considered offensive. You are likely to be asked if you found your way to the interview venue easily. Always answer positively, even if it was a nightmare getting there. These people will be so used to getting to those premises that it will jar in their minds if you moan about not being able to find the building. You are trying to build a consistently positive picture in your mind from the word ‘go’. If you are asked about your well-being generally, e.g. ‘So how are you today then Ellie?’ never, ever answer in the negative! Not even slightly negative such as ‘Oh, you know’ or ‘So-so’. Be positive and enthusiastic – ‘Very well thank you. And you?’ This is common social interaction that oils the wheels a little. Be polite.
