DRESSING FOR THE INTERVIEW
It's a rare
situation in which an interviewee would get points taken off for
dressing too conservatively. Even if you're interviewing with
an organization known for its loose, casual culture, it probably
won't hurt you to be the only guy in the building with a tie,
or the only woman wearing a skirt on the day of the interview.
For men and
women, proper attire begins with a conservative two-piece business
suit, either dark blue or gray. Along with that, you should wear
a conservative shirt or blouse, preferably white or very light
colored. Your shoes should be conservative and POLISHED! Don't
wear a lot of perfume or cologne.
For men in
particular, neckties should be silk and in a muted, conservative
pattern. Wear dark shoes and dark socks. The shoes should be lace-ups.
If you wear a mustache or beard, make sure they're neatly trimmed.
If you wear an earring or have piercings, lose them for the interview.
For women,
avoid very high heels. Wear conservative hosiery close to the
color of your skin. Stay away from bright or garish nail polish
and use a minimum of makeup. Also keep jewelry to a minimum, and
that means only one set of earrings.
BE FOREARMED
You'll need
to bring in two or three items with you to the interview: a copy
of your resume, at least three references and, if applicable,
a portfolio of your work samples. These should be contained in
a neat-looking valise or briefcase.
Just because
the hiring organization already has your resume, don't assume
that it will be on the desk of your interviewer. He or she will
probably want to refer to it during the interview, and that's
a great opportunity for you to produce a fresh, unwrinkled copy.
You should
have references handy, even if you haven't been specifically asked
to bring them in. Ideally, these will be professional references - people
to whom you've reported on other jobs. If you don't have enough
of a job history from which to draw three professional references,
then approach former teachers, a minister or rabbi, an advisor
for a club to which you belonged in school. Usually, employers
will simply want their names, their professional or personal relationship
to you, and a phone number where they can be reached. You might,
however, solicit letters of reference from these folks and present
them at the interview.
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