If you have been in the job market for any more than two
weeks, there is an excellent chance you have read dozens of
articles offering loads of general interviewing tips. As
such, it is likely you already understand the importance of
arriving 15 minutes early, giving a firm handshake,
establishing eye contact, and wearing clean shoes (doesn’t
it sound like A broken record?)
But what can you employ to set yourself apart from the
competition? What important, little used details can you
integrate into your interview strategy that can turn the
interviewer into your advocate? In this first of two
articles on non-conventional interview tips, we’ll cover
the time leading up to the interview itself.
“Case The Joint”
While you may not be planning a daring bank robbery, you
still won’t want unexpected logistics issues getting you
off to the wrong start. If you haven’t been to the
interview location before, drive past it the day before to
make certain you know the best route to avoid traffic
delays.
Check the parking situation. Does the building have its own
lot? Will you have to park on the street or in a lot a few
blocks away? The last thing you want is to spend 10 minutes
looking for a parking space. This will add to your stress
level and make the interview process that much more
difficult.
“When Not To Accessorize”
You already know about keeping it professional and
understated when it comes to your interview ensemble. (you
did read the other articles, right?) But let’s take a
deeper look.
A common nervous habit in the interview setting is the
twirling of rings. It is the first cousin to wringing your
hands. Unless you have gone through practice interviews
before where your technique has been critiqued, you may be
doing this and not be aware of it. If you are not sure,
remove any rings prior to the interview and the problem is
solved.
How about those bracelets? Yes, there are many tasteful
selections out there to make you look professional, but you
want to be certain they aren’t clanging together and making
noise during the interview. You will be shaking hands,
gesturing during conversation (at least you should be), and
taking notes. If you have on more than one bracelet, the
noise may distract, or even annoy your interviewer. It is
best to play it safe and keep it to one bracelet.
“When Accessories Can Help”
Standard interview protocol calls for the dark “power
suit”. But it just so happens that the day of your
interview is supposed to be rainy and dreary. These types
of days have a depressing effect on people, including your
interviewer. Remember that your job is to stand out. This
is when you make use of your accessories to affect the
interviewer’s mood.
Guys, try a brighter tie than usual. You don’t want
anything over the top, but it should be bright enough to
add color to a dreary day. Ladies, you can afford to have a
little more fun with it. How about a gold broach (perhaps
of the sun) or neck pendant? While the other candidates
will blend in with the dark theme of the day, you will have
made a memorable impact that gets you noticed.
“Arrive Early For Your Early Arrival”
Every book and article that you have read mentions arriving
to the interview 10 to 15 minutes early. But you don’t want
to use the 15 minutes to decompress from traffic jams or
phone calls you took in the car from your family.
You should park your car 30 minutes prior to the interview
(or 15 minutes before your standard 15 minute arrival
time). If interviewing at a small office where they may see
you outside, park down the street or around the corner.
The security of knowing that you’ve safely arrived on time
can allow you to relax and take some time to review your
notes, practice your interview responses, or even mediate.
Now when you enter that office 15 minutes early, all of
your prep work is complete.
It’s game time!
—————————————————-
William Mitchell is a Certified Professional Resume Writer
and Owner / General Manager of the Resume Clinic
(http://www.theresumeclinic.com), serving clients in the
United States and Canada with highly targeted resume and
cover letter packages since 1995.
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