Winning the first impression during an interview
What to wear
There are no specific rules. Avoid extremes and wear something you are comfortable in. Your clothes should be clean and neat, tidy and conservative. Before you attend the interview, try to study the organizational culture. What do the employees of the company wear to work? Wear those kinds of clothes that would help you fit in with the others in the company. Your clothes shouldn’t make you stand out unduly. Men should wear a suit. Women can wear a suit or a dress or skirt rather than trousers. Your shoes should be clean. The truth is that many people still look at them. Don’t wear sandals. If you have several interviews for the same post, don’t wear the same clothes each time. Clutter should be avoided both in your clothing and the in the things you take with you. Avoid wearing lots of jangling ornaments as this will put the interviewer off.
Choose conservative colors. Avoid wearing loud colors or ostentatious clothing. Women should not wear low necklines and very short or see-through skirts. You should be freshly washed and have clean finger nails. Use a deodorant and a mouthwash. If you tend to perspire during the interview, avoid wearing clothes that are tight under the arms. Do not go into the interview room smelling of alcohol, tobacco or garlic. Don’t use strong perfumes. Unkempt, untidy locks will ruin your whole appearance. So keep your hair and beard or moustache neat. Your appearance should convey the fact that you have the interview seriously.
Entering the interview room
Interviewers tend to make up their minds during the first four minutes of the interview. So the first impressions are very important. Before you enter the interview room, take a deep breath and calm yourself. Gently knock on the door. When you are asked to come in, enter the interview room slowly and serenely. Don’t poke your head around the door timidly as this shows your lack of confidence. Walk over to the chair meant for the candidate, shake hands if the interviewer offers his/her hands and sit down with minimum movements. The candidate should not normally initiate the handshake but should be ready to respond.
Your handshake should be firm, but not gripping or domineering. Smile at the interviewer and look him/her in the eye as you shake hands. When you sit down, don’t slouch. If you carry a handbag, do not put this on the interviewer’s table or on your lap. Place it neatly on the floor beside you. Take a deep breath, pause and be ready to listen to the interviewer. Establish eye contact with the interviewer.
The interviewer may begin small talk to help you relax and may ask you about your traveling arrangements or the weather. Don’t take these questions seriously. Avoid giving long-winding descriptions about your travel arrangements or attempting to hold a full-blown discussion on the weather.
Don’t smoke. Don’t chew gum or eat sweets either.