Dress

Unless you are going to work at a downtown art gallery, professional business attire is a must. Don’t ask the interviewer if it is okay to dress casually – he may say yes. I recently heard a story of a medical billing professional who asked if she could wear scrubs to an interview.  She did, and the impression she left was not one that screamed ‘hire me’!

Even if the company is business casual, wearing clothing that says you are polished and poised sends an important message. Show the interviewer that you take the role very seriously and that you want the job. Choose clothing that is basic. Go with solid colors and tailored suits and jackets. Avoid wearing tight fitting clothing. You are not interviewing to be a pole dancer. Also, don’t wear anything you don’t think is flattering. You will be nervous enough without worrying about your skirt riding up or your buttons popping.

Appearance

Teeth – white as can be, nails and cuticles clean, and well manicured, shoes polished, jewelry – understated, deodorant, but no heavy perfumes or colognes.  Yes, this means you soldier!  No stone should be left unturned when it comes to maximizing your appearance. There is ample research that shows the importance of attractiveness. You don’t need to be a movie star, but being your personal best is a must.  If you need to, enlist the help of a trusted friend or two. Do a mock interview preparation and ask them for their honest opinion about your appearance. Is your hair well combed, does your breath smell fresh. Do you have a beard? Off with your head – or at least the beard! All of it matters.

Etiquette

Give me 20 handshakes NOW.  OK, so you may only shake the hand of a few managers, but how you shake should be firm and confident.  If you have a limp handshake or conversely, have been known to squeeze someone’s hand off, you should practice. While the handshake may seem trivial, body language is an extremely important component of a successful job interview.

Try to match the body language of the interviewer. By leaning in when she is speaking, you are showing interest. Do not cross your arms, bite your nails, or fidget. These behaviors send out the wrong signals and can be misinterpreted. Concentrate on making good eye contact. Smile often.

Attitude

If you are job hunting, it is likely you have been disattisfied in some way with your past or current role.  Whether you feel you are not able to advance to the next level, or you have been laid off for 6 months, you do not need to share the negative details. While the facts are the facts, negative experiences should be reframed into the most positive light. Focus on your value and the good attributes you will bring to the role. Provide honest answers, but don’t dwell on any ‘’’woe is me” stories.  That will only label you as a loser.  I told you this was going to be boot camp.

As a career coach, I find that those who live in a place of negativity have more trouble getting hired than those who learn from their experiences and believe that good things will come to them.  Attitude really is everything. You can have the best suit and the most well groomed hair, but if you have a stinky attitude, hiring managers can smell it a mile away. When I teach my clients to reposition themselves in a more positive way, viola!  Suddenly, after months of rejection, they are getting second and third interviews like never before.

Drop and give me dress, appearance, etiquette and attitude.  There you go.  That wasn’t too hard now, was it? Being prepared properly for interviews may take a little muscle, but the results are well worth the effort.  If you aren’t doing everything you can to make the best possible impression, you may be sabotaging your job search efforts – even  if you have a great résumé and an outstanding work history. Hut 2-3-4.

Do You Need Interview Boot Camp 101? is a post from: Glassdoor Blog

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And let’s look our professional best, no matter how high the temperatures get. This may take some effort, especially if you are heading to a job interview in mid-afternoon or a professional mixer outside by the pool or at a picnic area.

Forget the swimming suit and take along your business cards.

“Professionalism extends to how you look too,” said Dana Leavy, a career coach in Brooklyn who has worked as a recruiter. “You’re supposed to be wooing and wowing people” and you want a fine first impression.

Three-quarters of human resources managers in an OfficeTeam survey say their dress codes don’t relax in the summer months, and this means job candidates – whether active searchers or passive ones – need to stick with the most professional attire.

One key: Dress appropriately for the place you’re going. “Know your audience,” Leavy said. Before you go,  check photos on the company website, on Glassdoor or on Flikr to see how they dress. Or ask someone who’s worked there. It’s important to show you’ll be “a good cultural fit,”she said, and that starts with your clothes.

“Every company is not going to be impressed when you walk in with a suit and a tie,” she said. Some creative sectors would rather see more personality and funkier patterns or accessories.  The key is that it’s appropriate to the setting, and doesn’t detract from your message of competence and expertise.

Whatever you wear also must stand up to heat and humidity, so you don’t arrive with huge sweat circles under your arms and around your forehead. Here’s some pointers:

1. Blazers or sports jackets work well almost anywhere, Leavy said. They can make an everyday outfit look better and more professional. So keep one handy in a hanger in your car or in the closet at work, just in case you decide to pop into that association event after work.
2. If you wear a suit, make it a lightweight and light-colored one. Cotton and light-weight wool breathe, and some other fabrics are intended for summer wear.
3. Walk into the interview with the jacket over your arm or slung over your shoulder. This looks sensible for the weather, yet shows your respect and professionalism, said Leavy.
4. Arrive early – and chill out. Head to a coffee shop and collect your thoughts. Or go to the interview but request a restroom stop before you head to the interview. Touch up your make-up or put on your tie and make sure you’re fresh and tucked in.
5. Women, don’t show cleavage or too much leg. Skirts should be just a little above the knee, the same for the sleeveless sheath dress, she said.  Men, don’t go too casual on shirts. A button-down dress shirt, without a tie, can look professional and clean, said Michael Steinitz, Robert Half International‘s district manager. where a golf shirt may not give the same seriousness.
6. Bring along a comb, cologne and deodorant along with the breath mints and your resume. All of them are worthwhile for the summertime interview. And ladies, pack everything in just one bag or briefcase so it’s simpler and easier to manage, Leavy suggests.
7. Outdoor networking events – a ballgame, barbecue, an outdoor fundraiser- can be tricky. Check with the organizer on what attire is likely.  If you wear a T-shirt – and many would advise against it – make sure the message is not one that will brand you a rebel or a troublemaker, unless of course that fits with the brand you’re cultivating. You don’t want to look like you’re heading out to a nightclub or a date, even if you expect to dance at the fundraiser with your peers nearby.

Strike a happy medium and be prepared to sound like an accounting manager or a research director even if you’re wearing shorts and a nice Polo shirt. For summertime presents some great opportunities to network and  those connections at the corporate picnic or the business group’s night at the ball game could turn into job talk and offer if you look the part.

How To Dress For The Summer Heat is a post from: Glassdoor Blog

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