"Dressing up for the Success Interview"

Prepare and practice for an interview.  After the date and venue has been set, allow time for enough preparation for the big day.  Remember that first impressions do last, so the way an applicant look really does matter.  Employers could easily give the verdict based on the manner of dressing during the initial interview.  


Better questions and service can be received if the appearance itself commands respect.  It is important to consider the surroundings of the company granting you an interview.  There is no reason to be over dressed or poorly dressed during this very significant day.  In fact, it is a good rule of thumb to always dress appropriately for any situation.  All to often appearance is glossed over.  Some might say that the inner characteristics of the person matter more, but in reality, you only have one opportunity for a first impression.  Make it count!


Although there are specific guidelines that can be followed, these does not apply to all states like New York for example, where people wear trendy up to extreme styles that are far away from the usual fashion rules common people know.  The rule of thumb should be to wear something that could boost more confidence.

Below are the top 12 do's and don'ts during an interview:


Ø Avoid wild colored nail polish before the interview.  The same goes with long nails that could easily turn off some conservative employers.  These should be neat and very tidy looking.


Ø Never wear jewelry that rattles and jiggles as you speak and move.  Try not to wear two or more rings or earrings.  Piercing aside from the ears is also a no.


Ø Professional hairdo also counts
.
Ø If you are a woman, wear closed shoes.  Heels are very appropriate as this gives more confidence to an individual and sense of respect is also provided once they see the person wearing them.


Ø  Again, for the ladies, never bare those newly shaven legs.  If possible, use stockings regardless of the temperature.  But make sure not to use fancy colored ones.  Only use those made for neutral looking legs.  These should also match the shoes.


Ø Remember that a good suit or dress brings more confidence as well.  This will also allow more comfort and chance for the applicant to answer comfortably or with ease.


Ø Avoid short skirts for women.  Wearing pants or leggings are a no, no during interviews.


Ø Wear the appropriate blazers just as long as they do not look fashion outdated.  Do not use any leather coats or jackets.


Ø For men, the tie is still appropriate.  Avoid using turtlenecks.  If there is no suit and tie available, use a collared shirt or white long sleeves.


Ø Men must not use too much aftershave.


Ø Women should be using bags that are not too bright and conspicuous.  These should be conservative and matching the dress.


Ø Any briefcase used must be in perfect condition.


The way a person looks equal the message he is trying to convey.  During the interview, this can either become a plus factor for the applicant or big loss.  Know for a fact that the way an applicant should look must be appealing, fashionable but not loud.


Consider the latest trends in the area or location where the prospective job is located.  One aspect that is a part of how employer picks a new hire is based on the physical attributes of the applicant.  From the way the hands were shaken, keeping an eye contact, the way the posture was maintained, the smile was delivered up to the manner of dressing is being rated already.


Regardless of your personal career background, skills, and underlying talents, if the first impression was never striking enough to make an outstanding appeal to the interviewers, nothing else counts.  This can be the potential employers’ initial interpretation of how an applicant will do on the job.  


Whether that perception is “fair” is irrelevant.  Do you want the job?  Look the part and your chances for success are much greater!

"7 Easy Steps to Improve Your Interviewing Skills"

In the midst of technological advancement nowadays, the "back-to-basics" rule still applies when it comes to getting hired for a job. It does not matter if you are planning to apply for a million-dollar company or a small, independent firm. When you face an interviewer, it all boils down to how you present yourself. This is the deciding factor whether you will get hired or not.


So you have distributed your resume to prospective employers and you have determined the correct job to apply for. The next step is to schedule the job interview.


You can make the acquaintance of the assistant or the receptionist when you schedule for the interview, either by phone or personally. Be friendly and polite, as these people might provide information that can be essential to getting that job or, even just give you a background of the company or your prospective boss.


Finally, you show up for the interview.


The basic traits of being prompt, how you speak and carry yourself and even how you dress are all factors that contribute in making a lasting impression that will eventually get you hired.


Here are 7 easy steps on how you can improve your interviewing skills:


1.) Prepare for the interview.


First, dress appropriately. Once the interviewer walks into the room, or once you walk into the room to be interviewed, your appearance will be the first thing to make the impact. Dress appropriately, check your grooming and mind your posture.


Second, practice basic courtesy. Know where the interview will be held and be there with ample time to prepare yourself before the scheduled interview. Turn your phone off to avoid unnecessary distractions.


2.) Research.


Use all your resources to make sure that you know the basics about the company. You would not want to be caught unprepared when asked about how you heard or what you know about the company that you are applying for.


Learn about your potential employer. In your mind, develop a clear picture of the company profile.


Make sure that you prepared answers to a few basic questions, but do not sound scripted. This happens when you rehearse what you will be saying word for word. It is enough that you have an overview of what you will impart to the interviewer, and it is better to be spontaneous.


3.) Be cool.


Step forward so that you are now seated and the interview is about to begin. Make a great first impression by maintaining eye contact, giving the interviewer a firm handshake, a friendly smile and a polite greeting. Sit only when you are asked to do so and do not forget to thank the interviewer for taking time off of his or her busy schedule to interview you.


Make sure to start on a positive note and set the proper expectations.


4.) Do not sell yourself short.


In the course of the interview, answer the questions briefly and accurately. The key is to be honest.


Make sure that as a prospective employee, you impart to your future employer what you really are and what you can do for the company, not the other way around. Stay positive and do not give a bad impression about your previous employer.


If you are applying for your first job, do not let your lack of experience hinder you from gaining the advantage against more experienced applicants. What you lack in experience, make up for in confidence and eagerness to learn.


You may also put yourself in the employer's shoes. Ask yourself, if I were on the other side of this desk, what qualities should I look for in a potential employee? Would I profit if he works for me and can he contribute to the development of the company? 


Do not be afraid to sell yourself but do not be overconfident. Just project an air that you are sure of yourself and your capabilities.


5.) Ask questions.


Should you encounter a difficult interviewer, do not be intimidated. One who does not let you put in a word edgewise should be lightly reminded that you should do most of the talking since he is the one who needs to learn more about you.


6.) Wrap it up.


As you near the end of the interview, make sure that all bases are covered. Now is not the time to discuss or even ask about the salary and the benefits that you will receive once employed. There is ample time for that once you do get the position and you are discussing the job offer.


Wrap things up by summarizing your strengths and pointing out your positive traits. Finally, as you end the interview, make sure to thank the interviewer again for his or her time, thus leaving a lasting impression.


7.) Follow up.


Send that all-important thank you note after the interview. Thank the interviewer for the time that he took with you and for giving you that opportunity. Make sure that you know who to contact for follow-up of the results.


A lot of research has been made about the interviewing process. Here is a brief run-through:


First, you make a schedule for the interview.
Then, you are there in the office and you are seen by the interviewee.
The interview itself then transpires.
Next is the closing, then you follow-up with a thank-you-note.
You eventually get accepted and you discuss, negotiate for and sign-up the job offer.
You may notice that the interviewing takes up a great deal of the getting-hired process, so you might as well polish up your interviewing skills on your way to getting that dream job.

"How to be Invited for Interviews"

Once the application has been sent and the resume received the next thing that should happen is that the employer will be calling to test communication skills by means of an interview.  Allowing yourself to be given the option on which employer is best fitting the applicant is one characteristic of being pro-active.  Consider being called by multiple employers for a job interview in a day a good sign.  This means that they were really impressed with the documents you submitted, therefore, deserving a personal communication on how most likely an applicant would land the job.


Resumes can present an individual very well.  Seventy-five per cent of employers say that applicants with resumes passing their standards would definitely be invited for a job interview.  Allow two or more interviews.  How?  Here are some resumes tips that would give you not only one but more calls for interview:


1. The position that an applicant is interested in should be placed right at the start of the resume.  Having this as an objective shows that an applicant is really focused and career oriented tells that he or she knows what is exactly the perfect career for him or her.


2. One of the best significant ways to get the employers' attention is by using words that are really powerful that denotes strong capabilities of the applicant.  An example of this is, instead of writing, "assigned to be", write instead "in-charge of," indicating that the applicant has active leadership skills that can be a step to the management position if there is any.


3. A bullet catches the eye of an employer at one look.  Use these in itemizing achievements, career highlights, recognition, qualifications, and skills and interests.  Words in bullet form forces the employer to read the information provided.  These also create more clear space on the paper making the application form or the resume very neat and outstanding.


4. Make sure that the resume is very selective.  Only apply for a certain position in one company or organization one at a time.  Do not submit resumes with different job interests and positions applied for at one time.  This will be a complete waste of time.


5. Ask a pro.  Resumes are written with the help of experts who can actually see the applicant's strengths and opportunities. 


Aside from preparing an impressive resume carefully follow and read all the special instructions like how many spaces are provided for a specific answer or the number of words for the answer.  Keep in mind that this is also a test to see how well an applicant can follow simple rules.  Not only does it have to follow the steps, the application form should also be neat.  Handwriting is also being considered and using a black pen will greatly add to the formality of the answer.  As much as possible, never use a liquid paper or fold and bend the application form and paper.


When answering, be careful not to leave blanks unless it really does not apply.  Use N/A only if necessary.  Be truthful with all the answers but this does not mean that you have to provide a complete or thorough answer for every question.  Always adapt the answers to the job being applied for.  Only provide the skills and recognition received that will be beneficial to the new company or employer.  However, see to it that the answers provided indicate the reason of being more qualified than the other applicants.


Choose references that can provide the applicant an objective description and information.  Teachers, friends, and previous employers can be willing and honest enough to provide that information.  The application form must be consistent with the resume.


"How to be Invited for Interviews"


Once the application has been sent and the resume has been received the next thing that would possibly happen is that the employer will be calling to test communication skills by means of an interview.  Allowing oneself to be given the option on which employer is best fitting the applicant is one characteristic of being pro-active.  Consider being called by multiple employers for a job interview in a day a good sign.  This only means that they were really impressed with the documents submitted, therefore, deserving a personal communication on how most likely an applicant would land on the job.


Resumes can present an individual very well.  Seventy-five per cent of employers say that applicants with resumes passing their standards would definitely be invited for a job interview.  Allow two or more interviews.  How?  Here are some resumes tips that would give you not only one but more calls for interview:


1. The position that an applicant is interested in should be placed right at the start of the resume.  Having this as an objective shows that an applicant is really focused and career oriented tells that he or she knows what is exactly the perfect career for him or her.


2. One of the best significant ways to get the employers' attention is by using words that are really powerful that denotes strong capabilities of the applicant.  An example of this is, instead of writing, "assigned to be", write instead "in-charge of," indicating that the applicant has active leadership skills that can be a step to the management position if there is any.


3. A bullet catches the eye of an employer at one look.  Use these in itemizing achievements, career highlights, recognition, qualifications, and skills and interests.  Words in bullet form forces the employer to read the information provided.  These also create more clear space on the paper making the application form or the resume very neat and astounding.


4. Make sure that the resume is very selective.  Only apply for a certain position in one company or organization one at a time.  Do not submit resumes with different job interests and positions applied for at one time.  This will be a complete waste of time.


5. Ask a pro.  Resumes are written with the help of experts who can actually see the applicant's strengths and opportunities. 


Aside from preparing an impressive resume carefully follow and read all the special instructions like how many spaces are provided for a specific answer or the number of words for the answer.  Keep in mind that this is also a test to see how well an applicant can follow simple rules.  Not only does it have to follow the steps, the application form should also be neat.  Handwriting is also being considered and using a black pen will greatly add to the formality of the answer.  As much as possible, never use a liquid paper or fold and bend the application form and paper.


When answering, be careful not to leave blanks unless it really does not apply.  Use N/A only if necessary.  Be truthful will all the answers but this does not mean that you have to provide a complete or thorough answer for every question.  Always adapt the answers to the job being applied for.  Only provide the skills and recognition received that will be beneficial to the new company or employer.  However, see to it that the answers provided indicate the reason of being more qualified than the other applicants.


Choose reference that can provide the applicant an objective description and information, teachers, friends, and previous employers can be willing and honest enough to provide that information.  The application form must be consistent with the resume.  Since many of these employers standardize and gauge the information the applicant is providing in his application form and resume, these must be full of complete and honest information.  This will be their basis when considering to have a one on one interview to see if what they read is true enough.  Arm oneself with positive strategies and knowledge to get those invitations for interviews come after you.  Remember that this will also be a marketing tool that any applicant can use for other future job hunting experience.Since many of these employers standardize and gauge the information the applicant is providing in his application form and resume, these must be full of complete and honest information.  This will be their basis when considering having a one on one interview to see if what they read is true enough.  Arm yourself with positive strategies and knowledge to get those interview invitations coming to you.  Remember that this will also be a marketing tool that any applicant can use for other future job hunting experience.

Importance of Skills Emphasis on Job Interviews

Skill emphasis during the interview is important to show the employer what makes you different from all the other job candidates. In this competitive world, companies search for the most qualified employees by weighing skills of the candidates and determining how they would benefit the company.


Majority of the top companies search for employers who stands out based from their expertise, ability to give new developments, and pleasing personalities that would enhance the organization. 


Skills are grouped into three kinds – knowledge-based, transferable, and personal traits.


1) Knowledge-based skills are those learned from experiences. These may include educational attainment, additional training, seminars attended, and other practices that you have studied to enhance your expertise. 


Knowledge-based skills include computer and communication skills, marketing or managerial knowledge, product development, and many more. These skills vary depending on the field of industry of each job candidate.


2) Transferable or portable skills are those you bring to a specific job. This is the reason why interviewers ask, “What could you offer the company?” Transferable skills are important because companies strive to look for quality employees that would improve the development of the workforce.


Portable skills include problem solving, team leader potential, organized, writing and communication skills, customer service oriented, time and project management, and good with numbers and budget. This kind of skills varies depending on the experience and versatility of each job candidate. 


3) Personal traits determine who you are. In a job interview, one of the most common things an employer says is “Tell me something about yourself.” Your response is vital because it would set the tone for the rest of the interview. 


Personal traits include good judgment, well organized, analytical, goal oriented, flexible, creative and many more. Try to sell yourself in as modest as possible within a limited time.


* Self-assessment. In order to provide an impressive presentation, examine your resume and list all the skills you have used for each past job experience. Make a comprehensive list of your skills and strengths including personal traits, knowledge-based and transferable skills. This would be the basis for your personal commercial.


* Once you have completed your script, you are now ready to face the interviewer. Remember that employers are interested in your accomplishments. Use words that are concise, direct and clear. 


Although many companies require a unique set of skills, you should still highlight your technical skills in the interview. These skills, which top companies usually seek, include leadership, communication, confidence, flexibility, problem solving and energy. 


Emphasizing all of your strengths and skills on job interviews would increase your chances of landing the desired job.

The Interview

The second step in getting a job is having an interview with a potential employer. The first step was sending your application and after careful review by the company, you are seen as candidate for the vacant position. 

The employer got this information through an ad that was placed in the paper, referred by someone in the company or a headhunter, or by a person who simply submitted an application via the company’s website.  

The first impression employers always look at is your resume. Given the many that apply, this usually takes about 30 seconds and so with the limited words, one must be sure that the resume is well written and grammatically correct. 

During the interview, most employers want to know more about person since the resume only gives certain information such as the person’s name, age, address, contact number,  social security number, past and current employment. 

The employer will likely ask about the experiences, lessons and accomplishments one has done and learned working for another employer. This will usually include how the person handled a situation in the company, the challenges of the job and the relationship with coworkers.

Another question will be the relationship between the applicant and family members. This shows character with how the person interacts with people who are close and those that know the person for a long time. 

The employer will usually ask why the person applied in the company and where you would like to be in 5 to 10 years. Long term questions such as this will show if there is dedication for the job at hand and if the company can provide something beneficial for both the applicant and the employer. 

Companies follow a certain budget in hiring qualified personnel which is why the interviewer will ask how much one desires to get for the job. If what is being asked is too high, the employer will usually ask if the salary is open to negotiation. 

After the employer asks questions, room is usually given for the applicant to ask questions in return. This is the best time to know a little bit more the company one might be working in and to get a feel of the potential company. 

If there are no more questions, the interviewer will then end the meeting and call the applicant back if the person has passed the initial interview so that the next phase of the application process can begin.

So, you’ve submitted a killer Curriculum Vitae and supporting documents. You’re ahead of the pack and have just received a call for an interview. What do you do next?

The interview is the most stressful and important part of job hunting. This is where the employers make a decision based on his or her impression of whether to hire you for their job. You will want to do your best in this part because here lays the culmination of all your job hunting efforts. Flub it here and all your efforts from application to examinations will go down the drain.

1. Make a Great Impression

Always dress in your best attire for the interview. Your attire should be appropriate.  No matter what the company may require for their employees, the first impression for applicants should be conservative business attire.

2. Do a Little Research

One of the best ways to make a good impression on your interviewer is to do a little research on the company you are applying for. This will equip you with material to answer many of the questions the interviewer will ask. One of the main points of the questions you will be asked is how your skills can benefit the company. If you know a thing or two about the company, you will find it a lot easier to answer this question. Plus, dropping a few meaty tidbits about how much you know about the company will go a long way in impressing the interviewer.

3. Watch Your Body Language

Many of the interviewers are well versed in body language, and you will find that, throughout the interview, they will be looking for hints about your personality from the way you act, talk, and move. It would be abnormal to assume a different set of body language during the interview. What you should do is to take note of your body language so that at least it communicates openness and honesty.

Avoid telling lies or embellishing your answers. Experienced interviewers will notice this in an instant. Always keep your palms open and avoid crossing your legs or your arms together. Do not be afraid to make eye contact while speaking; just make sure that you do not come across as intimidating. 

4. Confidence

Walk in with a purpose. Answer with a purpose. Try not to be too self-conscious. Make sure you are confident in what you say. If you hit a snag and find yourself in a compromising situation, make sure you handle the situation confidently – even when saying that you do not know an answer to a question. 

Confidence reflects competence. Employers always look for competent people to fill their ranks.

Another tips in a Job Interview

The second step in getting the job is meeting the potential employer for an interview. The first step that an applicant has successfully completed was sending your application and passing the screening process of the company. 

The employer got the resume through a variety of sources that can be from an ad that was posted, a referral from a friend or a headhunter, or by a person who simply submitted an application by logging on the company’s website.  

Here are a few tips that will help in having a successful interview;

• Before going to an interview, it is best to do some research about the company one is applying to. 

• It is also best to practice with a friend or family member mock up questions that the employer will likely ask so you do not choke during the real interview.

• When you go for an interview, it is best to always arrive 10 to 15 minutes ahead of time. This shows employers that the person is punctual and serves as a good attribute in a potential employee.

• When meeting an employer, you should bring an extra copy of the resume and other documents that are needed if asked certain questions. A good example is architects and photographers who are professionals in the respective fields who have a portfolio of the works done which may impress the interviewer.  

• It is always best to dress appropriately. This shows the employer sincerity on the part of the applicant applying for the job. One must have finger-nails and hair well groomed for the interview. The outfit worn should be professional.  This would mean that shoes must be used to match the outfit. If you typically wear a lot of jewelry, it is advisable to remove and tone it down for the interview.

• When you are in front of the employer, smile and greet the interviewer with a firm (but not bone crushing) handshake  which is always a good start to get the interview moving. 

• During the course of the interview, listen very well to the questions asked. Each must be answered truthfully and confidently to be able to sell yourself to the potential employer. 

• Afterwards, the applicant should thank the recruiter for the time that was given to meet for the interview.