interview etiquette

You’ve landed yourself a job interview. Now, what’s the next thing that will take you through to success? It’s Interview Etiquette – your manners, the way you present yourself at the interview plays a crucial role in getting you that job. First impressions do count. Interviewers are carefully watching for etiquette faux pas.

Know what’s expected in an interview and follow these guidelines below to be at your best.

 

PHASE 1 PREPARATION FOR THE INTERVIEW

Do your research about the organization.

It is best to find out everything you can about the organization before your interview. This knowledge will give you an advantage over other candidates. As you conduct your research, seek answers to the following questions:

• What are the organization’s products or services? What is unique about them? Who are their competitors?
• Learn about their history, vision, mission, culture and current goals.
• What does the annual report reflect?
• Has the organization recently experienced any acquisitions or mergers?
• Is the organization expanding services or products?
• Have any divisions or departments been expanded or dissolved in the last year?
• Is the organization part of a larger (multinational) corporation?
• How quickly has the organization grown? How long has it been in operation?
• How involved is the organization with the community or charitable organizations?
• What is the work atmosphere like at this organization?
• Is there any dress code?

Get clear on the details of the interview.  

• Know with whom you will be meeting, and the time and location.
• How many people will be interviewing you? Get enough resume printed for everyone.
• Discover how long it will take to get to the interview location. Maybe, do a trial run during rush hour (if you are in a big city) and check out the parking space.
• When deciding on what time to leave for the interview, keep a buffer for traffic, construction or weather delays.

If you plan to bring your portfolio or any other information, take time to organize it well.

If you carry a purse, make sure it’s well organized.

 

PHASE 2: DAY OF THE INTERVIEW 

• Make sure your clothing is clean and doesn’t need repair. Wear well-fitted clothes and minimal jewelry. Definitely, don’t wear anything provocative.
• Take time to look your best. Be well groomed.
• Before your interview time, stop at the restroom to check your hair, teeth, and clothing. To make a great first impression, look your best.
• Stand when being introduced to your interview. Make eye contact and shake hands. Greet the person and say how pleased you are to meet them.

Attire

The first impression you make on a potential employer is incredibly important. When you meet a potential employer for the first time, they immediately form an opinion of you based on what you’re wearing and how you carry yourself. A conservative, professional approach to dress for an interview will help you avoid being screened out before you get a chance to sell yourself in the interview.

Regardless of the work environment, it’s important to dress professionally for a job interview because how you dress can either make or break the job interview. In general, the candidate dressed in a suit and tie, or dress and heels, will make a much better impression than the candidate dressed in jeans and sneakers.

The appropriate dress code varies for different industries, companies, and locations. For example, a tech start-up prefers casual dressing in tune with their relaxed work culture; but an investment banking firm with its strict discipline will want its employees to wear formal suit and tie, as they are required to deal with clients on a day to day basis.

Before we go any further, let’s decode what different dress codes mean.

• Business professional: In a business professional environment, professional or business suits are the norm. For men, this might mean a blazer or suit jacket, button-down shirt, and tie and dress shoes. For women, this might mean a blouse and dress pants or a statement dress with heels.
• Business casual: If the dress code says ‘business casual’, you may drop your suit. Business casual outfits are less formal than a suit, but they are also more professional and polished than, say, a t-shirt and shorts or a sundress and sandals. Usually, men wear chinos or pants, polo or a button down shirt, a belt and dress shoes; women wear a conservative dress, a blouse/sweater with a skirt or dress pants, and dress shoes or boots.
• Casual: In a casual work environment, you may drop a black suit and dress shoes, and opt for something more casual and relaxed but it should still be presentable. For example, men can wear a long-sleeved dress shirt with jeans or khaki pants, a belt, and dress shoes, and women can wear a collared shirt with pencil skirt or pants, or a work dress.

Bottom line is to avoid anything too bright or flashy that will distract the hiring manager.

Men's attire

• Dress in a manner that is professionally appropriate to the position for which you are applying. In almost all cases, this means wearing a suit. When in doubt, go conservative.
• Suit means a matching jacket and pants, dress shirt, tie, coordinating socks and dress shoes. A dark-colored suit with light colored shirt is your best option.
• Your suit should be comfortable and fit your well so that you look and act your best.
• Avoid loud and flashy colors for any item of clothing & accessories.  
• Clothing should be neat, clean and pressed. If you don’t have an iron, either buy one or be prepared to visit the dry cleaner.
• Shoes should be well-polished and in good condition, not scuffed or run-down at the heels. They should also match your belt. You will get a great deal of use out of a good-quality pair of dress shoes in a traditional style.

Women's attire

• Generally, you should wear a suit with a skirt or pants. When in doubt, be more conservative.
• Your suit should be comfortable and fit you well; if your waistband is cutting you in half or your jacket is too tight, you won’t look or act your best.
• Interview suits should be simple and dark in color. Anything tight, bright, short or sheer should absolutely be avoided.
• Wear a conservative blouse with your suit. Do not wear bright colors, animal prints, or anything lacy, sheer, or low-cut. 
• Make-up and nail polish should be understated and flattering; shades that are neutral to your skin tone are generally advisable. Avoid bright or unusual colors or very long nails.
• Keep your jewelry and hair accessories to a minimum, and stick to those that are not flashy, distracting or shiny. One ring per hand is best.
• Shoes should be conservative and fairly low-heeled. They should be in reasonably good condition, not scuffed or run-down at the heels. Don’t wear shoes with an open toe or back; any shoes you would wear on a date or to a club are probably inappropriate. A basic pump is the best option.
• Your hose should be neutral (matched to your skin tone).
• Your hair should be neat, clean and conservatively styled. Banana clips, brightly-colored scrunches or elastics, and cheerleader-type ponytails look out of place with a suit. You may want to wear your hair in an updo, pull it back into a low ponytail, or wear a barrette. The idea is to look polished and professional.

Dressing professionally shows respect for you, the interviewer, and the company. You may not have to dress like this every day, but you are more likely to be taken seriously when you present yourself in a professional manner and take the time to attend to details.

Dos and Don’ts of grooming

• Take a shower or bath the morning of the interview.
• Wear deodorant but avoid additional fragrances.
• No perfume, cologne or aftershave is best. You don’t want to smell overpowering or worse, cause an allergic reaction. So remember: “less is more”.
• Wear minimal make-up, not distracting make-up.
• Be sure your hair is clean, combed and out of your eyes.
• Make sure you have fresh breath. Brush your teeth before you leave for the interview, and don’t eat before the interview.
• In many cases, you will want to remove any piercings and cover tattoos.
• Avoid large earrings, bracelets, scarves, etc. that may take the interviewer’s attention away from what you are saying.
• DO wear shoes that are comfortable, professional and safe.
• DON’T smoke after the shower and getting dressed.

Be on time

It is best to arrive 5 minutes early. Being late says you're disorganized and not very good at time management. Drive the route to the organization the day before your interview so that you know exactly how long the commute will take.

Make a Positive First Impression

Show respect and courtesy to ALL employees with whom you interact, as they may be asked to provide input on the candidates. Be polite to everyone you meet, including the receptionist. You never know who may be asked, "So, what did you think of this candidate?"

Turn off your cell phone

Make sure your cell phone is completely off, not even on vibrate. The best thing to do is to leave it in the car. Some people can’t resist the urge to peek at their phone when they get a message. You should not be speaking with the interviewer and looking at your phone. In fact, do not take your eyes off of him or her. Give the interviewer one hundred percent of your attention.

Relax, be Yourself, and Listen

Introductions and handshakes, dress, eye contact, enthusiasm and that initial small talk with the recruiter all help to create the first impression of you as a potential employee. Relax, be honest, and remember that an interview is a conversation. Many hiring decisions are made based on personality and fit, since several candidates may actually be well qualified for the position. Follow the lead of the interviewer, do not interrupt, and be sure that you understand the question asked, or ask for clarification. If you need to pause to collect your thoughts before answering a question, do so.

Body language

Speak well, make eye contact, and sit up straight.  Use your interviewer's name (in moderation), enough to show you're awake and attentive, but not so much as to annoy the hiring manager. Look at the hiring manager in the eye as you talk shows you're confident and engaged in the conversation. Don't stare—that's rude and creepy. Sit up straight. Slouching or sliding down in the chair makes you look tired, and no one wants to hire someone who is tired before they've started the job.

Verbal Dos and Don’ts

• Do avoid using verbal placeholders such as “um”, “you know”, uh” and the ever-popular “like.”
• Avoid cursing, regardless of how mild you may think it is.
• Don’t try to impress the interviewer with a large vocabulary.
• Don’t speak too loudly or too softly.
• Don’t lie about your experience. You will be found out.
• Don’t bash previous employers. It only makes you look bad.
• Don’t giggle. Believe it or not, nervous laughter is fairly common and something many people do under stressful events such as an interview.

Attitude

• A positive attitude gets you an extra edge
• Share your willingness to learn and how quickly you have picked up new skills in the past.
• Show your enthusiasm for working for their company.
• Give examples of why you would be a good fit for their organization.

 

STAR Technique of answering competency-based interview questions

While there are many different approaches you can take to an interview question, the STAR interview technique is the one most employer recommend.

For STAR-based questions, you split your answer into four sections. STAR stands for:

• Situation: Describe the background or context.
• Task: Describe the task or challenge you were faced with.
• Action: Explain the action you took, and how and why you did it.
• Result: Describe how it ended, what you accomplished and what you learned from the situation. Relate the skill or ability you’re illustrating back to the vacancy you’re applying for and explain why it’s useful.

This technique helps the employer to see that you can give evidence as to why you have certain strengths.

Don’t spend too long describing the situation or task – trim any details that are unnecessary.

Talk at length about the actions you took, any challenges you faced and what specific skills you used.

Spend some time to explain how your actions affected the results. Ensure the outcome you describe is always positive.

 

Ask the Right Questions

Be ready to ask intelligent questions during the interview. DO NOT bring up issues related to salary and benefits until the employer initiates these topics. Although money may be a high priority for you, asking about salary indicates to the employer that you are more interested in what the job pays than the work itself.

A few sample questions for you to ask:  

• How does this position fit within your organization's structure?
• How will I receive feedback about my performance, and how often?
• Where can a position of this type lead to within your organization?
• How did this position become available?
• What does your orientation/training process entail?
• What are the long-term goals or growth plans of the organization?
• What type of continuing education or training does the organization provide?
• What are you looking for in the ideal candidate?
• What are some of the challenges this organization/department faces?
• What do you like about working here?
• What kind of day-to-day supervision is provided for the person in this position?
• Can you describe the daily, office environment of your department/organization?

 

The Closing

If you like what has been discussed in the interview, let the employer know that you're excited about what you've heard and are still very much interested in the position.

Before leaving, be sure to thank the interviewer for his/her time. "Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you," shows you appreciate that someone has taken the time to talk to you and consider you for the job.

Find out about the next step in the hiring process and when decisions will be made.

 

PHASE 3 AFTER THE INTERVIEW

Writing a Thank-you email after a job interview is always a good idea. It considered a common courtesy after a job interview and demonstrates polished professionalism. Showing your appreciation for your interviewer’s time will solidify the rapport you established. Conversely, the absence of this gesture, at a time where putting your best foot forward is expected, could hurt your chances of landing the job.

Beyond exercising manners and business etiquette, the thank-you email presents you with a golden opportunity to re-sell yourself.

Perhaps you missed cues to present some of your talking points, leaving your interviewer without a full understanding of your skills. Your thank-you email is your chance to fill any possible gap and reinforce your fit for the job.

Six things to remember when writing the thank you email:

1. Be prompt: Start drafting your thank you note immediately after your job interview while it's still fresh in your mind, and send it out preferably within 48 hours of the interview. 

2. Make it specific and keep it succinct. You may follow this structure: 

• Paragraph 1: Express your gratitude
• Paragraph 2: Reiterate why you're a perfect candidate for the job
• Paragraph 3: Reinforce your interest in the position and the company, and let the hiring manager know you'd welcome further discussions.

3. Avoid spelling and grammatical errors. 

4. Don’t sound desperate.

5. Remember to ask the hiring manager for her business card at the end of the interview.

 

OVERALL SUMMARY 

What To Do or Not To Do

Do

• Prepare a complete, attractive resume that stresses your qualifications in a positive manner.
• Get permission from people you plan to use as references.
• Write an effective cover letter that really sells "you."
• Fill out the application completely, accurately, and legibly.
• Use the completed resume as a reference for filling out the application.
• Arrive for the interview a few minutes early.
• Dress appropriately for the interview.
• Go to the interview alone.
• Bring resume, social security card, work permits and licenses to the interview.
• Greet the receptionist and the interviewer courteously.
• Present yourself with confidence.
• Research the company.
• Be prepared to answer questions about yourself and your qualifications.
• Be prepared to ask questions about the company.
• Smile.
• Follow the interview with a thank-you letter.

Not to do

• Do not present a resume that was hastily put together or has typographical errors and smudges.
• Do not use a general, all-purpose resume.
• Do not give inaccurate information.
• Do not present an application that is unreadable or incomplete.
• Do not arrive late for an interview.
• Do not wear jeans, wrinkled clothing, or outrageous jewelry to an interview.
• Do not overdo perfume or aftershave.
• Do not take friends or family to an interview.
• Do not act as if the receptionist and interviewer are doing themselves a favor by seeing you.
• Do not forget your manners.
   

10 Common Interview Mistakes to Avoid

1. Failing to prepare.
2. Wearing the wrong outfit.
3. Not showing enthusiasm for the job.
4. Bad mouthing your former employer.
5. Mumbling, not making eye contact, shaking your leg or touching your hair.
6. Not being punctual.
7. Looking at your cell phone to see who sent you a text.
8. Failing to follow up.
9. Bringing up salary too early; better yet, leave that discussion for a call with HR.
10. Talking too much or talking too little.