Don’t overlook these interviewing tips
1. Be presentable
Wear a suit that fits, and don’t cut corners when it comes to ironing or drycleaning, says leadership development professional and author Monique Honaman. “I knew one guy who was in such a rush the day of his interview that he only ironed the front of his shirt. Later, during the course of his interview day, it was hot and he was encouraged to remove his jacket and get more comfortable and it was clear that he had cut corners and only ironed the front! He was very embarrassed,” Honaman says.
Also, while you should always wear deodorant, try to avoid perfumes and colognes. You never know who will be allergic or just downright averse to your scent. “A hiring manager once told me a story of how he didn’t select an incredibly well-qualified candidate for a role because she wore the same perfume as his ex-wife,” says executive consultant Danielle Beauparlant Moser. “He said she walked in the room and his only thought was how to get her out of his office as quickly as possible.”
2. Know whom you’re meeting with
“Know the name of the interviewer so that you can ask for that person at the receptionist’s desk,” advises executive coaching expert Cheryl Palmer. “It’s embarrassing when the receptionist asks, ‘Who are you here to see?’ and you can’t remember. Have this information either in your head or write yourself a note that you refer to prior to arriving in the waiting area,” Palmer adds.
3. Interview starts immediately
“Most people would never think of the receptionist as being an interviewer, but it’s true,” Palmer says. “It’s fairly common that the receptionist will report back to the hiring manager how candidates behaved in the waiting area. Don’t be remembered as the one who spoke disrespectfully to the receptionist.”
4. Make proper eye contact
“One of the most obvious mistakes interviewees make is with eye contact, and it costs a lot of people a lot of jobs,” says career author Barry Maher.
“Eye contact is simple. Any given eye contact should last about five seconds at a time. And if there’s one interviewer, make eye contact with him or her about 40 to 60 percent of the time.”