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Do first impression count? You Bet They Do!
It's amazing how important first impressions are in the interview. In fact, it can come as
a bit of a shock for most graduates who are entering the job market for the first time.
You create a first impression with each of the six to 10 people you will meet on interview
day! Any one of those can go wrong, and changing a first impression is very difficult.
So your first few seconds are fairly vital when you walk into that interview room
or are greeted by your employer. We all give out different signals and these can
be influenced by the way you dress to your body language. In my opinion good
body language starts with a firm handshake (that’s firm - don’t shake their hand
off!) and being smartly dressed. Don’t bathe in perfume or aftershave as strong
smells often give off an overpowering smell and can be very off putting. Not everyone
has the same taste in cologne and there is nothing worse than being stuck in a room
with a smell that makes you feel ill. It’s always best to be clean and neutral!
Dress code: What should I wear?
It’s always a tough call when trying to decide what to wear for a job interview. Traditionally men always wore their smartest suit and tie and the same could be said for women - either a nice skirt and blouse or a suit. However things have changed a lot since the old days, for example if you are going to work for an IT firm or Graphic Designers then the dress code may be smart but casual - by the same token if you are going to work for a firm of Solicitors, Accountants or Insurance Brokers then the chances are the dress code is going to be formal so it can be a hard call to decide what to wear for your interview.
You need to dress for success your clothes should show you as a confident and capable person. To achieve this, you would need to ensure that:
- your clothes are clean (laundered) and ironed,
- your clothes are in tune with the present times (not your grandfathers/ grandmothers suit)
- the clothes fit you to perfection do not wear borrowed clothes unless these are - your size
- the shoes are polished, closed and matching your ensemble (men should wear matching socks)
- your accessories match what you wear
- your hair is combed for formal occasions (get rid of any crazy colors if you had had it dyed before)
Body Language: The Do's and Don'ts
Eye contact
Many graduates struggle with where to look during a job interview or when looking directly at a person. This is a complex form of body language which I plan to simplify for you. Share your eye contact with everyone in the room. Concentrate on being as natural as possible, including your eye contact and eye movements. Shifty eyes that seem to search the room for an escape route, presents to the interviewer as being insecure and having something to hide. If you feel uncomfortable looking at your job interviewer directly in their eyes, try to focus on the bridge of their nose. Without going squint, select an inconspicuous place on the interviewers face in close proximity to the centre of the interviewer's eyes. If the interviewer has some form of blemish or mark on their face try not to stare at it or even worse, point at it as you cover your mouth and run out the room.
Posture and Pose
The best advice I ever got about job interview body language was; 'pretend like you're on the Clifton beach in your cozzie'. Regardless of whether you are fit or not, when you're in your cozzie, the way you carry yourself automatically works in favour of your posture and overall body language. Push your shoulders down and extend your neck to give you height and sophistication. Pull your stomach in and tighten your abdominal muscles to sit up straight and at attention. Naturally, you want to appear relaxed and comfortable so make sure you can still breathe. Keep your shoulders square to your body and lean slightly in towards the person who addresses you.
Hands
Hands are one of the easiest ways to read body language and it is important to know what to do with these appendages. How you hold them, where you place them and what you do with them is surprisingly crucial body language information. Did you ever hear what 'Confucius Say' about man who keeps hands in pockets? Always keep your hands in plain sight. Never hold your hands in your pockets or tightly ring them on your lap. The more natural and relaxed your hand body language is the more relaxed and calm you will appear. Safely hold your forearms at ninety degrees from your body and place your hands in your lap in a steeple position to promote an open and relaxed body language. Always try to keep your hands lower than your elbows, during your job interview and your hands should be comfortably placed.
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