Many job-seeking individuals spend hours worrying if they have the most competitive resume, best answers to interview questions, or highest level of educating. They walk into an interview nervous, fidgeting, and the words don’t always seem to come out right. This scenario is all too familiar for individuals in search of snagging a job. However, there are areas of preparation for interviewing that go unprepared. Below are a few tips to make your next interview the “best you ever had.”
Dress for Success
In short, your outfit is one of the first (if not the first) thing your interviewer will see. Depending on the formality of the interview setting, whether it be a conference room or meeting at a local coffee shop, always lean towards the dressy side of business casual. For men, a nicely fitted suit or ironed khakis and a sports coat is acceptable. Additionally, an ironed dress shirt and matching color for belt and shoes makes you look put together and polished.
For women, a pencil skirt combined with a shell and cardigan or a pinstripe pant suit always works well. Additionally, women should keep accessories to a minimum and heel height should be no higher than 3 inches. Hair should be worn out of the face and styled in a way that is not distracting to the interviewer. As a side tip, wearing an item of blue clothing, such as a blue dress shirt for men or cardigan for women, is visually calming and attractive to the eye. In fact, I have found wearing blue has scored me many more film roles than any other color for auditioning.
Talk the Talk
Sad but true, many individuals loose out because they simple do not articulate their answers in a refined and cohesive manner. When answering a question, avoid using word such as “Um”, “Like”, “you know”, or “yeah.” Although individuals use these in casual conversation every day, the level of professionalism required for the job is degraded by using such relaxed language. Instead, take a moment to collect you response in a slow, refined, and professional manner. Additionally, avoid what vocal teacher’s call “vocal fry”. This occurs when the last few words of a phrase are dropped in pitch and the breath support for the vocal cords are lost. If you’ve ever heard Kim Kardashian speak, you’ll catch the speech impediment. Instead, opt to take slow breaths and support sentences without releasing all the air. Trust me, your interviewer would much rather have you take a breath mid-sentence than listen to an imitation of a reality star.
All Hands (Not) on Deck
Remember to never place your elbows on the table during the interview (if there is a table). This signifies an air of overconfidence and laziness to the opposition. Instead sit in a relaxed manner, hands crossed in your lap, when talking. Additionally, try not to use hands in an overly expressive manner when answering questions. This becomes distracting and the focus is no longer on your vocal response. Additionally, men should never put their hands in pant pockets or cross their arms across the chest. This psychologically relates a “closed off” personality and mentally puts up a brick wall between you and the interviewer. Women should also aim to speak with minimal hand motions and refrain from readjusting items of clothing or searching in her purse. Additionally, fidgeting with hair or wiping smudged makeup is always a no. Aim to always have hair away from the face and apply makeup (if desired) in a tasteful and natural manner.
Hopefully, after following these simple tips you will significantly up your chances of scoring that job you always wanted. By simply tweaking the visual manners and presentation, you can drastically change your first 20 second impression from your future employer.
