Do you want to walk into the room and ZAP...make sure they are impressed! Enough has been written about dressing right for an interview. Dressing conservatively, yet maintaining your innate style is the right mix.
Do you want to walk into the room and ZAP...make sure they are impressed!
Enough has been written about dressing right for an interview. By now you probably know that dressing conservatively; yet maintaining your innate style is the right mix for getting that perfect look on the D-day. However, many are often at a loss on how to achieve this. While you needn’t be a trend setter, you must definitely spend some time on planning beforehand what you will wear as you face the sharks.
Remember that even before you open your mouth to enthral them with your wisdom, your looks have already given them a cue to your personality and they are probably half way there to hiring you or writing you off. Dumbfounded with this revelation? Most psychologists say that 50-55% of the impression a person will make the first time, depends on the clothes he wears. Practically speaking, if the clothes you wear have so much potential, why not let them do the initial talking. If you are well dressed, you will find yourself relaxing while your confidence zooms up further at their admiring glances.
There are some basic rules for men and women to follow while dressing for an interview:
Wear well tailored clothes that are not too tight or revealing and convey taste and elegance.
Pay special attention to grooming your hair in a neat out-of-the-way style.
Keep nails short and clean with light varnish for women.
Avoid dangling eye-catching ornaments and tattoos.
Smell fresh and clean. A light perfume will do.
Alright, now let’s take a closer look how different sectors have their own style quotients and how you will be able to match those:
Human Resources/ Government/ NGOs
You need to project that you are trustworthy, honest and have people management skills. Dress conservatively in well coordinated colours that make you look cool and comfortable. You can also include handlooms or handcrafted shoes and purses in their attire.
Hospitality
An elegant well groomed image is very critical here. Fine tune your looks to the hilt here in well cut clothes that drape well. You will be scrutinized from the top of your neat head to the tips of your well polished shoes. Remember to wear your smile along with a subtle perfume or cologne.
Advertising or Design
The job calls for exhibiting your creative quotient, but it’s best not to go overboard. Dress in smart casuals but keep out distracting details like chunky jewellery or shiny belt buckles. Try to hit that right mix of creativity and professionalism.
Finance and Law
Although you needn’t dress like a penguin in a stiff coat, black is still a colour that cannot go wrong here. Project yourself as analytical, precise and very businesslike and go for the full business attire complete with a tie and pinstripes. Patent leather shoes with matching briefcase or folder would complete the look.
Higher positions
When being interviewed for a higher position, remember you need to project authority, dependability and competence in your field. Power dressing is called for and you need to wear excellent quality clothes in dark colours, well contrasted with light shades. It is best to choose branded clothes that stand out for their superior cut and styling.
If this list does not impress you, explore possibilities to find out what exactly suits your body type and personality before you zero down on how to dress for an interview. Dress in something that you can carry with style and never forget to wear that smile.
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Dressing up for interviews
Managing your body language
A lot of people prepare for interviews keeping in mind the common questions, qualifications and experience. Have you ever thought that your body language can play an important role in helping you succeed in interviews?
One of the most important yet most ignored aspects of interviews is your body language. Your body interview tells a lot about your personality and character and a recruiter will always pay attention to what your body language has to say about you. Here are a few tips on body language tips that you may find handy during an interview.
Eyes: A proper eye contact during a conversation shows your confidence and tells the interviewer that you are interested. Lack of proper eye contact is a clear sign of lack of confidence. But do not overdo it; it may look like aggressiveness to the recruiter.
Facial expressions: Do not distort your face to show discomfort. It indicates disrespect and arrogance. Do not look overly happy or sad. Maintain a firm expression that shows interest, professionalism and confidence. Similarly, do not bite your lips or twist them to sides. This shows that you either lack confidence or are hiding something.
Arms: The way you position your arms speaks a lot about your receptiveness. Arms crossed or folded over your chest say that you have shut off other people or are not interested or disagree with what the others have to say. This can surely create negatives ripples in the interviewer’s mind. Try and keep your hands on the side. This makes you look relaxed, confident and open for communication.
Posture: A slump posture tells the interviewer that you are tired and have no energy. Surely, no one will want to hire a person who looks tired on the interview day itself. Sit or stand erect and maintain a calm posture. It helps in establishing you as an alert and enthusiastic person in the recruiter’s mind. Similarly leaning slightly towards the speaker makes you look genuinely interested in the conversation.
Legs: A lot of leg movement indicates nervousness. Similarly, placing one leg or ankle over the other knee shows arrogance. Keep your feet firmly placed on the floor. This shows confidence and respect for the other party.
Apart from the points mentioned above, do remember to wear your smile to the interview. Look confident and show respect. Remember, if not more, a positive body language is almost as important as your qualifications and work experience when it comes to getting that job you have always desired.
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What the interviewer wants to know
A list of some most common interview questions along with what the interviewer is actually trying to know through these questions. So here is how you should answer these.
How many times during an interview have you felt that the questions being asked are irrelevant? Rest assured, every question that the interviewer asks has some reasons behind it and to fare well, it is important to understand the hidden meaning and answer as per the interviewer's expectations. We present a list of some most common interview questions along with what the interviewer is actually trying to know through these questions.
Tell me about yourself/your background: Here the interviewer is trying to ask “why do you think you are best suited to the job?” Give a short and concise statement about your background and relevant educational qualifications and experience that makes you suitable for the job.
Why do you want to leave your current organisation: This question is meant to check “how loyal a person you are” Be honest when answering this question, but never ever blame or badmouth your current company. Talk about challenges and learning, but ensure that you put your current organisation in a good light. Otherwise, the interviewer may think that if you can’t be loyal to one organisation, you can’t be loyal to any organisation.
Why do you want to work here: Read this question as “what do you know about the company?” Interviewers will expect you to have some knowledge about the company and the lack of it can reflect badly on your enthusiasm and interest in the job. So, put in some time to research about the company and get at least the basics right.
Where do you want to be in the next 5/10 years: In most probability, the interviewer here wants to know “how stable you are” Stability is a big concern with employees and interviewers obviously want to hire someone who stays in the organization for a long duration. Include internal growth and stability in your answer and you have caught the interviewer on this one.
What are your salary expectations: This question actually means “can we afford you?” This question again needs some research. Find out the average salaries earned by people in your profession in the industry and in the company you have applied to and then, based on these figures quote your expectations. You obviously do not want to settle for a lesser amount or ruin your chances by quoting a huge amount.
Just be smart and try to gauge what the interviewer is looking for. Understand the requirements, match your profile to the requirements and create a pitch based on your research that establishes you as the prefect candidate.
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5 tips for an impressive interview closure
Closing an interview right is almost as important as your performance during the interview itself. It is your chance to reaffirm the positive impression that you have created and hit the right note with the interviewer.
Interviews are your doorway to success. They decide whether you will get that job or not. And it is not just your performance during the interview that counts; the impression you create during the opening and closing of the interview also plays an important role in getting you the job. Here we will discuss a couple of tips that may be of help in closing an interview right.
Ask if the interviewer needs any more information. This shows that you are enthusiastic about the job and are ready to cooperate as much as you can. This information could include specific details about your background that the interviewer may have missed, professional references etc.
Reaffirm your interest in the position. Tell the interviewer that after what you have heard about the company and job profile, you are really interested in taking up the opportunity. This helps the interviewer in gauging whether you will be comfortable in the company or not and makes him/her believe that you are really excited about the profile.
Restate your selling proposition. Your selling proposition is a brief description of your strengths and achievements and why you are best suited to the job you are being interviewed for. Just state it while rounding up the meeting. This will help the interviewer remember you better.
Ask about the next step. This reaffirms your interest in the job and establishes you as an enthusiastic professional who wants to have the required information to prepare well. Moreover, this actually gives you the knowledge required to prepare for the next step in the process.
Ask for the contact details of the interviewer. The contact details will help you contact the interviewer in case you do not hear from them. It helps you in staying updated about the interview status and your candidature.
Also, remember to thank the interviewer for his/her time. These are just some of the basic things that you can do to close an interview right. However, what really matters is how you perform. So, prepare well and remember to leave your nervousness home when you go for the interview.
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How to handle interviews without getting stressed
Facing an interview is often stressful. Here are some ways to help you reduce the stress of facing interviews. This can be done by proper preparation and following these tips during the interview and after.
A recent poll on shine.com reveals that more than 60% people are scared of facing an interview. For many, interview is synonymous with stress; you first get stressed over not getting an interview call and then stress about its preparation. Worse is, when at the time of the interview - you either freeze with panic or chatter aimlessly, losing your train of thought.
Here are some valuable tips to help you handle the interview process in a stress free way.
Pre-interview tips:
Practice mock interviews with family/friends or in front of the mirror, so that the actual interview doesn’t scare you.
Know your resume thoroughly. Be prepared for questions on work experience, job responsibilities and personal attributes. Be ready to prove your credentials with examples.
Research thoroughly on the company and industry. Find out the latest news and happenings of the company you are interviewing for and also be aware of trends of that industry. Also be ready with a few questions you would like to ask the interviewer, at the end of the interview.
Plan your attire in advance. If you are confused about what to wear, stick to the conservative. For more check, dressing up for interviews
Visualise yourself brimming with confidence and success in the interview. Practice succeeding in your imagination and you'll soon be doing it in reality.
If you are unwell or not at your best, it is better to re-schedule your interview.
Facing the interview tips:
Timing is important: Don't take on undue stress before a big interview. Arrive just 5 - 10 minutes before the scheduled time. Arriving early makes you worry more and arriving late may find you racing, your heart pounding from the last-minute dash. Ten minutes early is enough to help you catch your breath and acclimatise you.
Relax: Only if you are relaxed, can you exude confidence. Show that you're calm, composed and in command during the interview. Breathe deeply and slowly; sit straight without crossing your arms or legs. Your hands and jaws should be relaxed with no clenching.
Speak slowly but clearly and pause for breath. Do not run with your answers, making them look like a practiced speech. Be clear, take appropriate pauses, have a pleasant countenance and don’t look grim or too serious.
Facing a tough question: Don’t flub or grapple for words. Pause, but don’t panic. Not everything can go as per your plan. Tackle tough questions after taking a deep breath and focus on what is being asked. In case you have absolutely no idea of the answer, be honest to state that and move on.
Post-interview tips:
Thank the interviewers and follow up properly.
Get feedback. Even if you do not clear the interview, ask the interviewer for his or her overall impression and take his feedback. Then you can approach your next meeting with greater confidence.
Prepare, practise and do positive visualisation to succeed in making your dream a reality.
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Tips to face job interviews confidently
We dread interviews and when we are scared, we bungle. Confidence and preparedness are the only two things that can help you keep cool and succeed at interviews. Here's how.
Most of us dread job interviews but it’s the key to a successful job. Hence it is important to approach interviews in the correct manner and with the right attitude, as that is the key to success.
These tips will help you to stay calm and focused instead of being a nervous wreck. Follow these to remain cool and confident in your interview and so achieve success.
Go prepared: Find out about the company’s vision, goal, products, the work culture and the management from the website. Then from the job description, analyse how suitable you are as a candidate. You can’t be prepared for all questions as there will be some googlies and bouncers hurled at you. But there are some common interview questions and if you’re prepared for them, half the battle is won. You’ll be less tongue-tied and appear more confident if you’re ready with the response. You can check out what the interviewer wants to know for the same.
Be thorough with your CV: You should be familiar with whatever is mentioned in the CV. Read it thoroughly so that you’re not stumped by any question regarding your past employment and education.
Act confident: Even if you don’t feel confident, act as one emanating confidence. Your body language should be accurate and you should be making a positive impact during the interview. Sit straight on the chair and look into the eyes of the interviewer. Remember, you’ve nothing to lose and go with that mind-set. This causes less palpable stress.
Sleep well: A good night’s sleep is essential to stay fresh in body and mind. Never leave the preparation planning for the last minute. Be ready with your interview dress and keep your shoes polished. Women should clip their nails and remove nail paint if it’s uneven at places and smoothen it well in advance. Never eat late or have an extra drink the night before the interview as that might leave you with a hangover. Try to remain calm and happy to be successful.
Be on time: Travelling to the interview can be stressful, especially if you’ve to commute a long distance. Try and do a trial run a day in advance so that you know how long it takes to reach there. Thus, you can plan as per your schedule and convenience. Remember, arriving late for whatever reasons is totally inexcusable.
Take deep breaths: If you’ve been made to wait in the reception, have a glass of water and take some deep breaths so that your voice is regulated and you don’t seem shaky. Also, prepare for some small talk, like what you would be saying about yourself, etc. This is essentially to break the ice and you’re at ease instead of sounding like a diffident person.
Prefer mornings to the second half: Mostly you wouldn’t be given an option, but in case you are, take the morning slot to an afternoon one. Though it doesn’t always matter but you’re fresh in the morning and after you’re through, you can plan the rest of the day accordingly. If the interview's scheduled in the the second half, you carry the baggage of the schedules and plans for the entire day as well as the interview stress and come across as jaded.
Lastly, it goes without saying, be relaxed and don't worry too much. The job interview is for both parties, ie. both for you and the employer to decide on the respective suitabilities; so go with an open mind and try to be calm.
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“So, why don’t you tell me about yourself?”
It’s a question most interviewees expect and yet the one they find most difficult to answer. Follow these four easy steps to ensure your response grabs the interviewer's attention.
“So, why don’t you tell me about yourself is the most frequently asked interview question. It’s a question that most interviewees expect and the one they have the most difficulty answering. Though one could answer this open-ended question in a myriad of ways, the key to answering this question or any other interview question is to offer a response that supports your career objective. This means that you shouldn’t respond with comments about your hobbies, spouse, or extra curricular activities. Trust me, interviewers aren’t interested.
Interviewers use the interview process as a vehicle to eliminate your candidacy. Every question they ask is used to differentiate your skills, experience, and personality with that of other candidates. They want to determine if what you have to offer will mesh with the organization’s mission and goals.
If answered with care, your response to the question, “So, why don’t you tell me about yourself?” could compliment the interviewers needs as well as support your agenda. This is a question you should be prepared to answer as opposed to attempting to “wing it”.
Follow the four easy steps outlined below to ensure your response will grab the interviewers attention.
Provide a brief introduction. Introduce attributes that are key to the open position. Sample introduction: During my 10 years’ of experience as a sales manager, I have mastered the ability to coach, train, and motivate sales teams into reaching corporate goals.
Provide a career summary of your most recent work history. Your career summary is the “meat” of your response, so it must support your job objective and it must be compelling. Keep your response limited to your current experience. Don’t go back more than 10 years. Sample career summary: Most recently, at The Widget Corporation, I was challenged with turning around a stagnant territory that ranked last in sales in the Northeastern region. Using strategies that have worked in the past, I developed an aggressive sales campaign that focused on cultivating new accounts and nurturing the existing client base. The results were tremendous. Within six months my sales team and I were able to revitalize the territory and boost sales by 65%.
Tie your response to the needs of the hiring organization. Don’t assume that the interviewer will be able to connect all the dots. It is your job as the interviewee to make sure the interviewer understands how your experiences are transferable to the position they are seeking to fill. Sample tie-in: Because of my proven experience in leading sales teams, Craig Brown suggested I contact you regarding your need for a sales manager. Craig filled me in on the challenges your sales department is facing.
Ask an insightful question. By asking a question you gain control of the interview. Don’t ask a question for the sake of asking. Be sure that the question will engage the interviewer in a conversation. Doing so will alleviate the stress you may feel to perform. Sample question: What strategies are currently underway to increase sales and morale within the sales department?
There you have it – a response that meets the needs of the interviewer and supports your agenda.
When broken down into manageable pieces, the question, “So, tell me about yourself?” isn’t overwhelming. In fact, answering the question effectively gives you the opportunity to talk about your strengths, achievements, and qualifications for the position. So take this golden opportunity and run with it!
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Common interview questions
You cannot guess all questions an interviewer may ask, but there are some common questions all interviewers ask. So prepare yourself for the interview, with answers to some of these common questions.
Facing an interview is one of the most interesting and challenging aspects of a job search. In about half an hour’s time, you have to convince the recruiter on your key skills, strengths, experiences and how you can be useful to the organization. Apart from job related questions, you may also need to answer questions about yourself. Your ability to answer these questions within the available time will help the employer assess your employability and suitability to the organization.
The best way to approach these questions is to prepare for them in advance so that you can answer confidently, without taking up too much time. Some of the generic questions that you may face in an interview are listed below:
Tell me about yourself: Be prepared with information on your education, accomplishments, work experience etc. Make sure to tell them about your background and how you have worked towards fulfilling your aspirations. But, do not go overboard, and try to keep your answer limited to about two to three minutes.
What do you know about our organization?: Do some research on the company background. Make sure that you know about their products, services and important people in the organization. Your answer to this question will show that you are interested in the job and have done your homework well.
What are your key strengths?: Do some research around the profile you are being interviewed for. List the skills and key strengths required to perform the job efficiently and then identify how your strong points map to the required job skills. Talk about at least three points that you think are the most important.
What are your weaknesses?: Do not talk about more than one or two weak points. Instead, talk about them in a manner that they look like positives. For example, tell them that you are an impatient person when it comes to winding up work, so when you see a person not being able to complete work on time, you decide to complete it yourself.
Why do you want to leave your current organization?: This is a tricky question and the answer will give your employer a lot of information about your personality and attitude towards work. The employers generally ask this question to understand if you are a reliable person or a perpetual job-hopper. Answer it by talking about the new challenges, learning and the opportunities that you see for yourself in the new organization. Do not talk negative about your current organization. It raises suspicion in the minds of the employers about your reliability.
A small window of interview with the employer can get you an edge over the others. Prepare yourself thoroughly and do not forget to wear your smile and attitude to make an everlasting impression.
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Leadership: You'll Know Them When They Know You
Steve Roesler One of the most important things is: Seeing people for who they are, realizing what they can be, and helping to take them there. It is also essential to make it impossible for them not to see you clearly.
Do people at work know who you really are? Do you see the people around you clearly enough to know who they really are?
I was thinking about the things an executive coach and advisor really does - or should be doing. One of the most important is this: Seeing people for who they are, realizing what they can be, and helping to take them there.
If that doesn't sound very "business-like," it probably isn't in the traditional sense of "business-like."
And therein lies the issue. Organizations of all kinds hire the best people they can find. Those folks look at the "people are our most important asset" blurbs in the corporate recruiting brochures. Then they sign on with high hopes.
But what happens down the road that causes discontent, retention issues, and the need to search for "talent?" Weren't those people talented when they were hired?
This Is What I See
I see highly motivated people getting performance appraisals that are designed to force rankings on a curve so they never accurately portray an individual's contribution and worth. I see employees at all levels getting feedback on the gaps in their performance - and then receiving orders to "close the gaps." I see the same people then coming to workshops and seminars, hearing theoretical - but good - teaching, only to go back to work and say "what do I actually do with that?"
In nearly 30 years of managing, consulting, and coaching, I can count on one hand the number of people I've seen fired for technical incompetence. They get released for issues of character, the inability to relate well with other people, or not being able to "close the gap."
Here are my thoughts as a result:
Relating well with other people. You can send people to class to learn skills. But does the day-to-day interaction at work encourage and reward healthy relationships? A manager with a coaching/relational approach can set the tone for how things get done and how people are expected to interact in the process
Workshops and Education. Two things I enjoy with a passion. Neither immediately changes my own behavior very much. But I learn ways to think differently and more clearly. Then, when presented with an opportunity to actually do what was taught, the education leads to application. People have the most chance of bumping up their game when given a chance to discuss and apply new knowledge right away.
Manager As Coach
Managers can coach effectively when they see their people clearly because they've built relationships that let them know who their folks really are. If they don't have the time or inclination, then they need to get some help to build the talent that seems, at times, to be hiding. It's probably not hiding. It might just be invisible to the naked eye.
What to Do:
If you want your talent to be valued, you've got to let people know who you really are. Make it impossible for them not to see you clearly.
If you are a manager, be intentional about "seeing clearly." If it's a little difficult for you, get some help.
You and I wouldn't build a house in the dark. We need light to see in order to build. And unless your a truffle, you need a lot of light in order to grow and use your talent to perform.
As always: weigh in. Share your thoughts on clarity, talent, and building people by seeing yourself - and them - clearly. Let the community learn from what you've learned.
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Distance Learning: Studying while working
Competition calls for a continuous upgradation of your educational qualifications and skills sets. Now, it is possible to continue your education even after you start working through distance learning and part time courses.
We all know that education plays an important role in our careers. As such, a better education offers a lot of rewards in terms of better prospects and career. But once you start working and get into the grind, there will never be any time to study. Most of the working professionals, even if they want to, do not take up higher studies for the lack of time. This is where the concept of distance education comes in. A lot of universities and institutes today offer multi-dimensional distance learning courses. These courses offer you a chance to learn and enhance your skill set while you continue at your job. But you have to be really careful about enrolling for these courses. Keep these points in mind when deciding upon a distance learning institution or a course:
Recognition: Ensure that the institution is well known and recognised by the government or university recognising authorities. There are a lot of fake and low strung colleges out there whose only aim is to make money. Even the certificates or diplomas they offer do not hold any value in the market.
Faculty: Research upon the faculty that developed the course or is involved in the implementation. A good faculty improves the chances of world class education and a bad faculty can actually land you up in the middle of nowhere. Ensure that the faculty is related to the industry and understands the trends and have the necessary skills and competency.
Syllabus: Make sure that the course contents are designed to meet not just the market requirements but also your work area. For example, if you are a marketing executive, studying market reserach and communication can be helpful, whereas if you are a technology professional, a PMP of a Togaf will be a better choice.
Methodology: The method of imparting education is also of importance considering your work schedule and availability. If you do not have the time to attend classes, you should opt for courses that provide e-learning or self learning facilities. Also, the methodology used should be the best considering your area of work. Ideally, a distance learning or part time course should provide a combination of self learning and contact class facilities.
Relevance: Ensure that the course is relevant to your industry. A generic management course may not be of use to you if you are a project manager. In such cases, you should take up a course in project manager. Also, ensure that the course is relevant to the market needs and is updated regularly based on feedback and industry changes.
With competition becoming fiercer than ever, it is important to constantly update your educational qualifications and skill set. With distance learning and part time courses becoming more popular, there are more opportunities for you to learn while you earn. Just put in a little hard work and see your career going places.
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Email: jobs@aarenconsultants.in
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