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Dress
good. No flamboyant dressing! Go conservative. For example,
white long sleeve shirts with a tie for men. For ladies, wear minimal
jewelry. Make-up should be restrained, fingernails nails clean, neat
and not brightly polished.
-
Smell
good. Watch what you eat before the interview and keep a
breath mint on hand. Never chew gum during an interview. Also, have a
good bath before you go, and wear light perfume or cologne.
-
Time
it well. Don’t plan an interview before work or during
lunch if your time does not permit it. Allow more time for the
interview than you think you need to avoid feeling rushed.
-
Be
conscious of your body language. Look the interviewer in
the eye. Remain professional in posture and demeanour. Sit up straight
and control your nervous habits.
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Speak
clearly and enthusiastically about your skills, knowledge,
and abilities. Answer all questions to the point, and don't reveal
more information than necessary.
-
Be
pleasant, but not overly friendly. You are interviewing for
a job, so remain professional.
-
Listen
carefully. Don't interrupt the speaker. If you need to take
notes, ask for permission. Sometimes, there may be long pauses during
the interview. Don’t let it make you feel uncomfortable.
-
Always
be positive. Never run down your previous employer. Be
prepared for questions that can make you look bad, like "Tell me
about a weakness."
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Do
your homework. There’s always the Internet. Learn as much
about the company as possible. If possible, brush up on the industry
by reading the newspapers or industry publications.
-
Don’t
be late. If you're not familiar with the location of the
company, get a map. Try to look over the area to find the location a
few days before the interview.
-
Etiquette.
Know what to do if lunch or dinner is part of the interview.
-
Write
a thank you note. Be professional until the end. Give them
a “thank you” note once the interview is over. Ask for the
interviewer’s business cards so that you know how to spell their
names and addresses properly.
