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Agoodimpressionresultsfromacombinationoffactorswhichincludesyourmannerofdress,yourbodylanguage,andyourattitude.Theysaythattheinterviewerdecidesif(s)helikesyouinthefirst5seconds.Readontoseehowtomakethebestofthat5seconds.
Attire
Tosuitornottosuit,thatisthequestion.Theanswerisnotasclearasitwasevenfiveyearsago.Manyoftheinterviewersdonotwearsuits,sowhatdoyoudo?Ifyouhaveachancetoobservethecompanyemployeesatwork,youwillseehowthetheydressandthatcanhelpyoutodecidewhattowearforaninterview.Inanycase,however,youshoulddressprofessionallyunlesstheinterviewertellsyouotherwise.
Whatisprofessionalattire?
Itisfabricontheconservativeside.Avoidlargeprintsandlargeexpansesofbold,contrastingcolor,glitterandshine,andexcessivetrim.Thisappliestoclothing,shoes,andaccessories.
Itiscomfortandappropriateness.Sandals,fishnetstockings,whitesocks,tennisshoes,heavymakeup,largeamountsofjewelryandtoolittleskirtareinappropriate.Heavywoolin100degreeheatisinappropriate,asislineninablizzard.Tightshoesorclothesarenotcomfortable.Avoidwearingmorethanonepairofearrings,especiallyiftheyarenotinyourearlobes;tworingsonyourhand;onewatch;andanecklaceorpin-andIdon＇tmeanasafetypin,whichisneverappropriate.
Itiscolorandstylethatcoordinateswell.Anavybluestripedjacketdoesnotlookgoodwithblackpants.
Itiscolorandstylethatflattersyouandmakesyoufeelconfident.
Itisconsiderationforothers.Avoidheavyamountsofperfumeoraftershave-somepeopleareallergic.Besides,youwantajob,notadate.
Itisadress,suit,orcoordinatingjacketandpantsorskirtwithcoordinatingshoesandaccessories.Chooseclothesyouwillwanttowearagain.Whenindoubt,askasalesrepresentativeinaclothingstoreoryourcareeradvisortohelp.
BodyLanguage
Wewatcheachother＇sbodylanguageallthetime,butareoftenunawareofourown.Yetthatisthefirstsignalthatwearehappyandconfident,orupsetandfearful.Interviewersareespeciallycognizantofbodylanguage,becauseitcantellthemsomuchaboutyou.
Greettheinterviewerwithafirmhandshake,asmile,andgoodposture.
Sitinthechairwithyourbackstraight,butnotrigid,yourarmsandlegsrelaxed,neitherspreadtoofarapart,nordrawnintighttoyourbody.ItisO.K.toleanforwardonceinawhiletoshowyourinterest.
Keephandgesturessmallandinfrequent.Usingoccasionalgesturestoemphasizeapointcanaddlivelinesstotheinterview.
Maintaineyecontact,butdon＇tstare.ItisO.K.tolookawayonceinawhile.
Remembertosmileonceinawhile.
VerbalLanguage
Whatyousayandhowyousayitareequallyimportant.
Haveyouranswerswellrehearsed,butnotmemorized.Thiswillhelpyoufeelrelaxedandconfident.
Avoidsaying"um,""youknow,"or"like"toooften.Pauseifyouneedtothinkaboutwhattosaynext.
UseproperEnglish.Thelanguageyouusewithyourfriendsmaybeinappopriateforaninterview.
Listencarefullybeforeyouanswerandifyoudon＇tunderstandthequestion,asktheinterviewertoexplainit.
Focusonthepositive.Avoidbeingtoobriefinyouranswersortoowordy.
Don＇tfeelyouhavetofillthesilence.Agoodinterviewerknowsthatmostpeoplefeeluncomfortablewithsilenceandwillsayanythingtofillitup.Toavoidsayingsomethingyoumightregret,waitfortheinterviewertoinitiatethenextinterchange.