The first few moments of your interview can have a decisive impact on how well the rest of it goes. Here’s how to start strong – together with some cautionary tales of what not to do from real interviewers…

 

1. The interview starts as soon as you leave the house

 

The interview starts long before you shake hands and sit down infront of your interviewer. You never know who you might bump into on your commute, or whilst in the company’s building lift. So make sure you project a friendly, confident, professional manner from the moment you set off.

 

Make sure you arrive early enough to allow yourself time to settle in. Put your phone on silent mode, make conversation with the receptionist and take in your surroundings – you might notice something that will make a useful ‘small-talk’ topic later. Don’t try and cram in any last-minute facts – you want to come across as calm and organised, not flustered and under-prepared.

 

What not to do: 

 

‘I once heard someone standing outside our building, smoking furiously and complaining loudly on their phone about the early start time of their meeting and wondering aloud why they were even there. When I got to my next interview, I realised to my dismay the noisy moaner was my next candidate! Not a great start.’

 

2. Treat everyone you meet as your interviewer

 

Make sure that you’re polite and friendly to everyone you come across in the interview process. From greeting the receptionist, to the people you share a lift with, to walking through an open-plan office to reach your meeting-room. These are all touchpoints with your potential future employer and colleagues, who will often share their impressions of visitors afterwards. Make sure that everyone you come into contact with sees you in a positive light.

 

What not to do:

 

‘I like to make a point of coming down to greet candidates in person. On one occasion, a candidate assumed I was an assistant, treated me in a very offhand way and rather rudely asked me to get them a drink. They got quite a shock when they saw I was heading up the interview panel! But what most disappointed me was the idea that it’s appropriate to treat staff of any level in such a way.’

 

3. Create a strong first impression

 

First impressions count, and non-verbal cues matter even more than verbal ones. So in those first few minutes, it’s all about smiling confidently, shaking hands firmly, making eye contact and generally looking as if you’re glad to be there and you want the job. In everything you do, project an attitude of energy, enthusiasm and interest.

 

Clothes-wise, try to match your dress style to that of the company you’re meeting. You should be able to get a good idea of the company’s typical dress code through its website and social media output, especially any content about its working culture, and your recruiter can advise you too. You want to project some personality and charisma, but you also want to come across as a good fit, so if in doubt always err on the formal side.

 

What not to do:

 

‘One candidate I interviewed asked for a glass of water while they waited. It was icy-cold and they must have spilled it just before we met, so my first impression was a very damp, chilly handshake. So always hold your drink in your left hand!’

 

4. Be ready for the small talk

 

Getting the small talk right (or wrong) can have big consequences. It’s a way for people to build rapport and affinity, and start to generate that elusive, intangible quality of ‘chemistry’ that characterises all effective business relationships. 

As part of your interview preparation, it’s a good idea to think ahead to some likely topics that might come up, so as to help keep the conversation flowing smoothly. The key is to come up with topics where you may have a shared interest, so that you’re able to both ask and answer credible questions.

 

Think, about topical themes. For example, has your potential employer been in the news recently? Or could you ask about the potential impact on the company of a recent event, such as new immigration laws, falling share prices or a serious malware attack? In each case, make sure you have an interesting thought of your own to contribute too.

 

What not to do:

 

‘One candidate I interviewed recently asked me a non-stop string of questions about my family, the job, the company, things in the news – all sorts of things. But he didn’t really have much to say himself and he didn’t really wait to hear my answer before asking the next question, so he just came across as rather anxious and scattered.’

 

5. Be on message from the outset

 

Politicians coached in handling the media are always advised to have a maximum of three key messages to get across, which they should stick to and repeat throughout any interview.

 

Similarly, it’s a good idea to have two or three key points that you want to make about what you have to offer and what you’re looking for – for example, ‘I’m ready for the challenge of managing a team’, ‘I combine compliance experience with technical expertise’, ‘in my career, I’ve developed an extensive digital transformation skillset’.

 

These are the three key points that you want your interviewer to remember about you. So try and work them in naturally whenever you can, even in the first few minutes. It’s also important to have a ready answer for some of the most common questions that come up early on – such as ‘tell me why you want this job’ and ‘what’s your understanding of what this job involves?’

 

What not to do:

 

‘I always start by asking people to explain what our business does. This deceptively simple question floors lots of people – it’s amazing how many people struggle with it, perhaps because they’re attending several interviews in a row and haven’t made the time to do much research. But if you don’t come across as having a firm grasp of the company and why it’s hiring, the interviewer can only conclude that you’re not really that bothered about the job.’

 

1. Have a Positive Mindset: Nobody likes unnecessary negativity, which will get you all the wrong kinds of attention. However, having a “can do” attitude is contagious and can lift everyone you work with. That is the kind of attention you want.

 

2. Consistency: It might be normal to have good days and bad, but if you can maintain consistent work habits and behaviours, and consistency with the products you’re producing, then you become an office anchor. You’ll be the rock that supports the team during good times and bad and will be rewarded for it.

 

3. Respectful of Others: If you treat your co-workers poorly while flattering your bosses, you’re only going to plant seeds of resentment, and in time your behavior will be transparent. But genuinely having respect for others is also showing respect for yourself and the workplace. It leads to a culture where everyone helps one another.

 

4. Open to Change: Change is inevitable, of course, but that doesn’t mean we always embrace it. Change can be scary because it’s unknown. But when change occurs on the job, if you’re open to that change and face it without judgement, then if you do have a criticism it will be heard.

 

5. Mentor Others: You can help yourself by helping others. It sounds counter intuitive, but by mentoring or assisting others to help them succeed you’re looking at the bigger picture. It’s not all about you, but the collaborative effort. You do work for a larger organization, not for just yourself. And the more people you help, the more likely they will help you.

 

6. Step Up to Lead or Support: Like helping others, you should also be open to taking a leadership role when it’s offered or needed. That doesn’t mean bullying yourself to the top and then passing on the work to others while you reap in the glory. It means taking responsibility and supporting the greater good.

 

7. Utilize Systems and Workflows: There are mechanisms that are designed to help you work more efficiently. If you’re not using these tools, then you’re not taking full advantage of your ability to get things done. Always push yourself to do better by any means at your disposal. Or, there might be a better tool out there than the one you’re using.

 

8. Be a Problem Solver: Instead of throwing your hands up and saying you don’t know when issues arise, work towards finding solutions. If you’re actively seeking to resolve problems and not playing a passive role or fading into the background when they occur, you’re going to get noticed.

 

9. Be Resourceful: Part of being a problem solver is being resourceful. You have limited time and resources to play with, so be creative and figure out how best to manipulate what you have to get where you want to go, as both a team member and in terms of your professional development.

 

10. Follow-Up & Follow-Through: All these suggestions are not one-offs. That is, you can’t just do them once and sit back waiting for validation. You must follow up on what you say and then follow through and in fact do what you say. If you have, then you’re an active participant in your own advancement. But if you don’t, you’ll be someone just trying to game the system and get ahead without having paid your dues.

 

1. Be grateful. There’s no law that says you must be promoted, even if you’re a good worker and have followed all the above advice. Nothing is guaranteed, and life isn’t fair. Therefore, if you do get promoted, say thank you and, more importantly, continue with those good work habits that got you there.

 

2. Be graceful as you move into the new position. Don’t rub your promotion in other’s faces. Don’t act bossy. Continue to behave in the fashion that got you the promotion.

 

3. Be confident. You don’t have to prove yourself, but also don’t take baby steps. It’s not the time to act timidly. If you have questions, ask. But, otherwise, move forward.

 

Pro-Tip: One thing to look out for when you’ve moved into a new position is the fact that you might still be attached to the old one. You have to let go of your previous job, don’t hover over whoever has been place there in your absence. You can offer guidance if asked, but otherwise steer clear. You have enough new work on your plate.

 

 

 

Deciding what to wear to an interview is often a stressful part of the preparation process. Successful job interviews depend on both how well you answer questions and how you present yourself. That’s why a smart, pulled-together appearance can help convince the hiring manager that you’re a great fit for the company.

 

 

Research the office dress code

 

 

Before choosing an interview outfit, research the company to determine how formal their workplace is. If you’ve checked the company website and social media pages but still can’t determine the dress code, try calling the company’s HR department. Explain that you have an upcoming interview and would like to know the appropriate dress code.

 

 

It’s also a good idea to consider the role and industry. If you’re interviewing for a corporate position in finance or law, for example, wear formal business attire. For men, this means a matching suit and tie. For women, it means a tailored dress, pantsuit or skirt suit. However, for less formal positions and workplaces, business casual is almost always the best option.

 

 

What is business casual?

 

 

Although it doesn’t have a strict definition, business casual generally means dressing professionally without being overly formal. It’s a step up from jeans and a t-shirt but a step down from formal business attire. It’s often a company’s default dress code and one that is a smart option for job interviews in nearly every industry.

 

 

How to dress business casual (for women)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Follow the guidelines below for women’s business casual attire:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Follow the guidelines below for men’s business casual attire: