Job Interview PreparationDoing excellent job interview preparation will not only help you before the interview, but it will give you the confidence you need during the interview. Here are some areas to concentrate on. WHO, WHERE, & WHEN - Know who you are going to interview with. Make sure you can pronounce their name and the name of the company correctly. Know where you are going. You can use MapQuest or GoogleMap to get directions and location. If you have the time, drive to the location during the same time frame as you would on the day of the interview. Time your trip. This will not only help you find the place, but it will also show you how much time it will take to get there. Remember to always arrive at least 15 minutes early for your interview. DO NOT BE LATE! REST - Get a good night's rest and be positive. Attitude is very important. PERSONAL HYGIENE - Men, get a hair cut and for women, have your hair done. Shower, shave, wash your hair, and trim those nose hairs. Do not use cologne, perfume, or after shave. Women should not powder themselves. Remember that you are going to be in an office interviewing. It doesn't take much perfume, aftershave, cologne, and body powders to smell the place up. Trim your fingernails. Women should use clear nail polish. Women should go easy on the make up and no flashy lipsticks and eye shadows. USE DEODORANT! You'd be surprised how many people I've interviewed that either ran me out of the room because they had on too much "smell well" or smelt like a billy-goat. CLOTHING & SHOES MEN: Wear a solid blue, brown, or gray suit. Wear a white dress shirt and a neutral tie (no blazing reds or wild designs). Wear socks to match your suit color. Wear a dress belt with a small buckle. Shined black or brown dress shoes (depending on the suit you select) are acceptable. No tennis shoes, flip-flops, deck shoes, etc. WOMEN: Styles change, so telling women how to dress is not simple. The best advice I can give is dress professionally. Look respectable. No plunging necklines and no hemlines up to your rear. Pantyhose are fine, but no knee-highs. Shoes should match your dress, but do not wear stilettos. Avoid carrying a pocketbook if you can. JEWELRY - A SIMPLE watch and wedding ring is acceptable for either sex. After that, you tread on thin ice. Leave the class rings, bracelets (wrist and ankle), and any other jewelry at the house. A petite necklace and ear rings for a female is acceptable, but men should not wear them. If you've had visible areas of your body pierced, then remove whatever jewelry you have in them. Try to cover tattoos as best as you can. Society may accept all this piecing and tattooing, but businesses do not. Especially if you are going to be working in a highly visible position. MATERIALS TO TAKE - Take extra resumes, reference sheets, your "Strengths & Weaknesses" sheet, business cards, one pen, and a small notebook (to take notes in). INTRODUCTIONS - Always hold your notebook in your left hand and shake with your right hand. If you are a man and your interviewer is female, then let her initiate the handshake. Women who have a male interviewer will need to initiate the handshake. You want to do your homework on your job interview preparation. Remember that you want to look your best, but look professional and act professional. Be cheery, positive, and ask questions. Above all; THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK. Click on Job Interview Preparation - More Interview Tips for more prepartion advice. Remember that this is your one and only time to make a great first impression. Don't blow it. Show that you have done your job interview preparation.
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