Do you mind your manners when you go on job interviews? Here are a few of them that deserve your attention:
Be prompt when responding to an interview request. If you get a message from a company requesting an interview, your response should come by the end of the next business day. If you are going to be away from home when you have sent out résumés, be sure to check your voice mail daily so you can respond in a timely manner.
Don’t “outdress” the owner/company president. If you go to an interview wearing an Armani suit and the owner is wearing one from JCPenney, you might be perceived as being a “stuffed shirt” and not a good fit with the company culture. You should know the standard dress of the company, staying conservative and going a bit more formal if the daily wear is rather casual.
Be on time for the interview. This means be 5-10 minutes early. If you arrive earlier than that, sit in the parking lot and review your notes.
Bring supporting materials if applicable. Some fields, like interior design, call for bringing a portfolio of your work. For others, that can be seen as over-the-top. If this is a grey area for you and you are not sure what all the interview will entail, call and ask.
Bring the gift of yourself. So what do I mean by this? Think of all the things you can bring with you to an interview:
- a positive attitude,
- confidence in your abilities,
- stories of your successes and your responses to situations where you struggled,
- a strong knowledge of the company and their needs, and
- your full attention (so turn off your cell phone)!
And here’s a bonus: say “thank you.” Thank the interviewer when you get the call to schedule an interview, thank whomever interviews you the day of the interview, and then write a follow-up thank you note that night after you have the interview. You will never go wrong with expressing gratitude.
What other basic manners do you think should be added to this list?
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I think confidence, without arrogance, is the number one trait you need for an interview (and for life in general). The trouble is that confidence can’t be bought on tap or even trained, it has to come from experience and knowing that you are good at something!
Hope you had a great Xmas by the way Melissa
Twitter: TheJobQuest
says:
That is a balance, isn’t it, Jorgen — to be confident, but not coming across as conceited. I agree that it is a very important attribute that job seekers need, but right up there is the ability to convey one’s talents. Telling stories that demonstrate why a person has just cause for being confident give a clearer picture of a candidate’s abilities.