Abha Chaudhary
Assuming that your resume has been picked by the computer and you have had a round of the telephonic interview. All this time the interviewer has not seen you and now comes the time to nail the face to face interview.
So, you really want to maximise the opportunity to get that coveted job. The most important point towards your preparation for the onsite interview is research about the office location, get the address right or if it is at a restaurant -research about the venue and if possible see the place before the interview.
Do your homework
These days by the power of technology you could also have a walk-through of the coffee shop or meeting space. Familiarity with the venue will give you a marked ease of conducting yourself through the interview. Some top business head honchos have a way of assessing the confidence and exposure levels of the candidates even by the way they step into the meeting arena or walk the aisle that leads them to the meeting table.
Most of the decisions are already made by the time you get the chance to shake hands with the interviewer. Remember this is your chance to put your best version forward in the light of your attitude, experience, energy and exposure. It is about projecting your people-handling skills which is beyond your impressive resume (which by the way is just your threshold skills). Because I firmly advocate the belief–what got you there might not keep you there. Just as you impressed the interviewer with your voice tone, you now need to continue impressing through your visual presentation. So, imperative as it may sound, dress impeccably and appropriately. As you go through the company’s website you can see the pictures of the people at work, which can give you a clue to the dress culture of the organisation or you can also seek clarity from the Human Resource department on the prescribed dress code, if any, for the interview. If none of these works then you can just be around the company premises and watch people, unobtrusively, to get a sense of the dress attitudes of the people. My suggestion is that you always start conservative–it is better to be overdressed to some degree than to be under dressed. Now that does not mean you wear your best tuxedo. Also, remember your dress should say ‘professional’ more than ‘gender’. Do not accentuate a physical attribute at the interview. For instance if you have fantastic six pack abs, it would be inappropriate for you to wear to the interview an extremely tight shirt to show your muscles. You want to show that you are there for work and not for play or flirtation. Also, pay attention to your grooming. A neat and immaculate presence always guarantees more positive smiles and head nods. Wear your perfume or cologne at least 2 hours before the interview, so it is not too strong for anyone in the room with olfactory allergies. Make sure your nails are trimmed and nail polish is not chipped. It talks a lot about your detail for being organised. Women must put on makeup that flatters your professional appearance.
Body language
When you enter the location for the interview, remain standing at the reception till you are further informed. As you wait for your turn, make sure your body language and gestures are confident and composed. No jittery movements, remember someone might be watching you. When one of the interviewers comes out to greet you and lead you to the restaurant table or the meeting table, stand up enthusiastically and greet with confidence and energy. It sends a message of positivity and your focus on the interview. At the table sit after you have been asked to. Wait for them to indicate where you should sit.
During the interview, listen attentively and let them complete the question before you respond. In fact, it’s a good idea to pause briefly before responding. It shows that you are truly absorbing what the question is and you are purposefully structuring the response. Respond with engagement, enthusiasm (not over enthusiasm ), a steady eye contact will reinforce your engagement. Avoid too many jargons, profanity. Mind your non-verbals. George Washington in his 16 laws of civility states. “Do not puff up the cheeks, roll out the tongue or the eyes, rub the hands, bite your lip or leave the lips open or pursed for too long.”
Your non-verbal behaviour should communicate that you are alert, interested and comfortable with yourself and the situation. Smile, nod, sit still but not mortified, don’t fidget! Remember this is a dialogue, be confident to initiate a conversation to seek clarity on any aspect of the position you are being interviewed for. This is your opportunity to make a good impression–so do it right!
Exit gracefully
Once the interview is done, wait for the interviewer to initiate the standing. You want to reaffirm your interest in the job and reaffirm that you are a good match for the position, so close the interview with positivity. If it’s a panel interview, thank each person carefully for this interview and time. As you leave the location you might be continued to be interviewed, so exit with the same confidence as you entered. Do not take your tie off or smoke a cigarette too soon. Remember to follow up through an email after a day to thank them again. You could wait for a couple of days or weeks (as informed) before checking on the status if you do not hear from them.
(Chaudhary is a Chandigarh-based image and style consultant)
from The Tribune http://bit.ly/300r46y
via Today’s News Headlines
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