Interviews Archives - Pat Carroll PCCO - Chartered Accountants & Tax Advisors

Job Interviews: First Impressions Count

Dress for Success

Good personal presentation is critical to you getting a successful outcome to a job interview.

Confidence

When you know you look well, you feel more confident.  Your body will project that confidence and it will be seen.

Be smart and formal

The safest option is to dress smart and formal.

For Men

Wear

  • business suit
  • clean shirt (is the neck collar clean, not ‘yellow’ marked? how do the cuffs look?)
  • clean polished shoes
  • tie (ideally silk, but no ‘funny’ ties, nor team ties)

For Women

Wear

  • skirt, blouse and jacket or
  • dress and jacket or
  • trouser suit
  • not too high a high heel, please!

For All

Carry

  • Briefcase or
  • smart bag or
  • organiser/diary
  • clean finger nails
  • clean hands

The ‘Do Nots’

  • Heavy perfume or after shave
  • heavy make-up
  • excessive Jewelry
  • excessive adornments

Be relaxed

The hardest part is to try and appear calm and collected, even though you are nervous!

Practice the following:

  • Deep breathing, quietly breath in through your nose, and exhaling through your mouth, slowly, concentrating on the feeling of the air going through your nose and into your lungs
  • Follow that breath into your lungs and feel how good it feels!
  • And then let it out, slowly!
  • Hold your hands slightly apart in your lap, just touching and relax them (try and not wring them!)
  • Sit up straight in the waiting area, shoulders back, neck up and quietly look around and notice your surroundings!

The Handshake

The handshake should be firm, outstretch your hand, and grip firmly the hand offered.  Do not give a limp, weak, ‘i could not care less’ handshake!

Good Luck!  :)