Interviewing Tips

Photo Credit: By Grey Geezer - CC - via Wikimedia Commons 

Here are some tips for having a successful interview.

• Always arrive on time. (Being late can lose you the job.  Being too early can, also.  IF you must be late, call the person with whom you are interviewing and explain the problem.  Things happen and a good employer should understand.)

• Remember that your interview starts before you arrive! (Pushing past someone on your way to the door, or driving unsafely into the parking lot in order to get a space, might be seen by your prospective employer, thus giving a bad first impression.)

• Don't fidget.  (Not only is it distracting to others when someone is always messing around with their hair or clothes, it makes the person doing it look unprofessional.)

• Stand up straight and look people in the eyes when you speak.  (In the US, standing/sitting straight and looking people in the eyes is a sign of confidence.)

• Give a firm handshake. (People, both men and women, in the US look for a firm handshake, not bone-crushing and not weak.)

Dressing for the Interview

When you go for an interview, how you dress says as much to your potential employer as your resume or job application.  Here are a few tips to follow.

• Always wear clean, ironed clothes.
• Do not wear jeans, cutoffs, tank tops or T-shirts.
• Do not wear open-toed shoes or sandals.
• Avoid any kind of heavy perfume or after-shave.

Women may ask their CNA advisor or someone at the OneStop Career Center about Dress for Success, an organization that helps low-income women find the clothes they need for interviews and work.  They also offer various seminars, workshops and networking for women.

Photo Credit: Google Public Domain Images