Men should wear a suit and tie. The suit doesn’t have to be dark,
three-piece, or pinstriped, but it should be somewhat conservative in colour
and style. Naturally, there are
situations where only a very conservative suit is appropriate, sus as in
interviews at financial institutions or law firms. On the other hand, if you’re interviewing
with a design or record company, it may be more suitable to interview in a
sport jacket and trendy tie.
Women have more choices in dress and therefore can make
more mistakes. Suits and conservative
positions, dresses are the best bet for
women as well; avoid extremes in length, colour, and frills. The more staid the company, the more
conservative the outfit should be. You
can personalize your clothes with tasteful understated jewelry and accessories.
Stay away from pants, miniskirts, sweaters and anything that’s overly trendy or
casual.
A firm handshake
makes a tremendous impression on an interviewer, but it always takes him or her
a few moments to concentrate after shaking a clammy, limp hand. Make sure your hand is dry, even if it means
wiping it inconspicuously on your clothes or hiding a napkin in your pocket.
You should appear calm and comfortable with a genuine
smile, whatever your internal thoughts.
Sit in natural positions, bearing in mind that you’re not on your own
couch at home. Avoid crossing your arms
tightly across your chest, because this is often perceived as an indication
that you close people out.
Make eye contact throughout your meeting. If you’re nervous and have an inclination to
look down, try to catch yourself and look at your interviewer. Many people have little nervous habits that
they’re unaware of. For that reason you
may want to try a few practice interviews with a friend. What do you unconsciously do when you’re
speaking? Do you pick at your
nails? Play with your hair? Have your friend point out any such unwanted
habits, and then find ways to avoid them.
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