Things Not to Do When Interviewing for a Job

Job interviews are a daunting process. You’re putting yourself in an unfamiliar situation, meeting new people, and knowing you are being evaluated based on a conversation of an hour or less. Still, an interview is often the only way you’ll be offered a job, so it’s to your benefit to practice, prepare, and know the dos and don’ts of interviewing. If you can avoid these 5 interview pitfalls, your talent, personality, and experience will better shine through, hopefully landing you an offer.

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Updating the Business Casual Dress Code

A business casual dress code can mean vastly different things to different people. Not too long ago, employees wouldn't think twice about wearing their most formal and professional-looking clothes to the office no matter where they worked. These days though, employers are much more relaxed about what they allow employees to wear, and changes in styles of clothing, accessories, and tattoos have had a big impact on how younger generations dress for the workplace. As a result, the term “business casual” can mean a whole host of different things. While it’s great that restrictions have been relaxed and attitudes shifted so people have the opportunity to be more expressive with their appearance, it’s important to know where to draw the line. Let’s take a look at some things you should consider so you can make sure you don’t stand out in a bad way at the office.

What does a business casual dress code actually mean?

Unfortunately for employees, the vast majority of companies describe their dress code as "business casual," but the term means different things to different people. We've all heard those stories of people showing up for their first day of work with what turned out to be completely inappropriate attire and feeling it took them months to recover from the shame. It becomes especially difficult if you’re someone who has tattoos, piercings, or anything else that might be considered outside the "norm."

When it comes to clothing, more casual or expressive styles popular in recent years outside of the workplace have permeated into it. Trends like skinny jeans and hoodies have had an impact on what people now wear to work. While it’s acceptable to add some of these elements to your work wardrobe, you need to be sure not to cross the line. Ensure whatever you wear covers enough skin and isn’t likely to cause a distraction for your colleagues.

Hair, beards, piercings, and tattoos

A company’s ideas about a business casual dress code often extends beyond the clothes you wear. You also need to think about other parts of your appearance including hair, body piercings, facial hair for men, and tattoos. If you have a hairstyle that is unusual-- perhaps it’s partly shaved or has vibrant streaks of color-- you’ll want to make sure it doesn’t become a distraction to your colleagues or any customers you may come into contact with.

If you are a man who likes to sport a beard, make sure it is well kept. In this day and age, beards can be long, but try to ensure yours has clean lines and is consistently trimmed so that it appears even. Like unusual hairstyles, scraggly beards and beards that are dyed unnatural colors will likely become an unwanted distraction.

Body piercings and tattoos have also become increasingly common. One study by the Pew Research found that around 40% of people aged 18-29-- the generation commonly referred to as "millennials"-- have at least one tattoo. Attitudes vary among employers as to whether piercings and tattoos are acceptable in the workplace-- though they are trending toward being more acceptable as their popularity increases. If you do have tattoos, make sure any tattoos you have that are visible don’t display any profanity or nudity and couldn’t possibly be considered offensive in some other way. Also remember: some workplaces allow employees to have piercings or tattoos on certain parts of the body, but not others, such as the face or the neck. If you have a tattoo like this or are considering getting one, it’s something you’ll want to keep in mind.

What to wear to a job interview

Perhaps the biggest and most nerve-wracking time you worry about dressing appropriately is when you have a job interview. First impressions are important, and you want to make a good one. Potential employers will definitely be looking at how you present yourself to get a sense of how well you understand the culture and expectations of the company and the industry.

Chances are, though, you don’t yet have a great sense of the culture at a company and what the acceptable dress is. In this case, it’s a good idea to dress in a slightly more conservative style. While your interview attire can certainly have a modern, updated look, be sure to take into account your interviewer's expectations for the role. Depending on the industry you’re applying for, a suit and tie for men and a pant suit for women may be expected. While situations vary, this is one instance when showing up in jeans and a hoodie likely won’t do you any favors.

If you do have an extreme hairstyle, tattoos, or piercings, you have a decision to make. Either you can wear them as you would ordinarily, or you can tone them down if you think they might be frowned upon. If you go with the second option, consider too whether you want to ask questions about the company’s dress policy or reveal that you will be dressing a certain way if you get the job.

Try to strike the right balance

The modern dress code can be a difficult thing to navigate for younger employees. With different attitudes and values surrounding dress and personal appearance, you want to make sure your own view of how you present yourself doesn’t conflict with your employer’s. If it does, it could have negative consequences for how you’re treated and even slow your career. It’s a good idea to take note of what your fellow employees are wearing-- especially those who have been working there for a while. They’ve taken the time to carefully hone their wardrobe to fit exactly what’s expected of them. If you have any specific tattoos or piercings you feel may be a point of contention with a future or current employer, be sure to sit down with an HR representative and ask.

Over time, you’ll get a clearer sense of what is acceptable and what isn’t. Try to view how you dress as just another job skill you learn. Wearing the appropriate clothing whatever the context can go a long way to ensuring you are seen in a positive light by potential employers, colleagues, and superiors.

Demonstrating Your Value in an Interview

As most working adults realize, doing well in an interview is as much about showing value as it about making a good impression. However, with the modern job market being as competitive as it is, showing better value than other job candidates is often the true deciding factor in whether or not a job offer is extended. 

In order to ensure best results when interviewing, demonstrate all that you can offer to the position the company is trying to fill. The following are but a couple ways you can present value during an interview.

Customize Your Cover Letter and Resume for the Job

If you’re applying for a high profile job opening, then it is likely that the job recruiter is looking through multiple applications at once. As a result, you’ll want to make sure that your resume and cover letter stand out from those of your competitors. A survey conducted last year stated that most recruiters only look at a resume for six seconds on average. As such, it’s important to make sure those six seconds tell the recruiter everything he or she needs to know.

The best way to make your resume stand out is to personalize it towards the job you’re trying to get. Make sure that you mention in your cover letter the qualifications that make you a perfect candidate for the position, and structure your resume to include relevant past working experiences and other pertinent information. This will help show value far before the interviewing process is underway.

Answer Interview Questions with the Position in Mind

When answering questions in an interview, you will want to make sure that you respond to inquiries honestly while further displaying how you can be an asset to your potential employer. Always remember that the answers you give in an interview will help the interviewer determine whether or not you are a good fit for the position.

 

Don’t miss an opportunity to prove that you are skilled and experienced enough to do the job better than the other candidates. Make sure to reference past successes, obstacles you’ve overcome, and any other subjects that would be pertinent to the conversation. It’s fine to brag a little bit about yourself as it shows confidence, but try not to come across as arrogant.

 

By giving a little extra thought to your actions during the interview process, you’ll find that you’ll get much closer to receiving a job offer than before. Just make sure to always present yourself properly to your interviewer.

5 Surefire Success Tips for Your Next Interview

2013 is officially here at last and job seekers are no doubt preparing themselves for a brand new year full of interview opportunities. With the New Year holding incredible potential for the career-minded among us, it’s important that everyone gets into the swing of things with the right practices in place. The following are five excellent tips to consider when embarking on your next big interview:

#1: Do Your Homework

After weeks of job hunting, you finally found a listing that looks particularly promising. You send out a cover letter and resume, and then receive a prompt reply asking to set up a time for an interview. Excitedly, you set the appointment and then get to ironing your best suit for the big event. However, aren’t you getting ahead of yourself?

All too often, excited job seekers follow up to a job listing while barely even looking into the company that posted it. Seeing how many managers tend to ask questions related to their own business in interviews, forgetting to do comprehensive research into a potential employer is a big mistake. By taking the time to learn more about the business that posted the listing, you will gain information useful in the interview and appear eager to your potential employer. 

#2: Look the Part

As obvious as this rule may be, it’s surprising how many people don’t strive to look their best for an interview. When in doubt, you should always come to the interview dressed in full business attire. Whatever you prefer to wear is strictly up to you, but you should never speak to a would-be employer dressed like you couldn’t care less about getting the job. 

You should always second guess yourself and never leave the house feeling like you don’t look as professional as you could. Remember the phrase “dress to impress” and be sure to look your sharpest in every interview. The extra attention you pay to your appearance speaks volumes about how you carry yourself in the workplace.

#3: Be Confident, Be Charismatic

It goes without saying that your performance during an interview is crucial. For all the references you may have and all the job experience you’ve gained over the years, being nervous and lacking confidence in an interview will end up undermining all your qualifications. Employers want to conclude the interview feeling like the person they just spoke with has the strength of character and capability to do his or her job. Coming across as being weak-willed or self-conscious only works to do the exact opposite.

Before you enter the interview, take the time to compose yourself. Try practicing key things you want to say in a mirror, drink some tea, or do whatever else helps you boost your confidence. Being able to walk out of an interview as relaxed as you did when you went in is a good sign you did well.

#4: Have Questions of Your Own

Employers love it when you have questions of your own to ask in the interview. For one thing, it shows that you did your homework and have learned a great deal about the company or position in question. It also shows that you are legitimately interested in getting the job and want to know more about it. You should always have at least three or four questions to ask before you shake hands at the end of the session and part ways.

#5: Be Sure to Follow Up

Following up a job interview is a lost art in our modern society, but it is also a practice that should always be observed. While some people simply send a polite email after the interview in thanks for the interviewer’s time, it’s a much better idea to send out something physical instead. Sending out an actual “thank you” card shows initiative, respect, and the willingness to go the extra mile to do something the right way. It always gets a good reaction and, even if you don’t get the job, will help employers remember you the next time a position opens up.

If you’re following these surefire success rules for interviewing and still are having difficulty landing the perfect job, you should look to J & J Staffing Resources for help. Let us help you find your perfect employer today!

50 Common Job Interview Mistakes

With frequent shifts in employment, more and more people, both seasoned professionals and new comers to the job market, are engaging in the most critical part of the application process, the interview. A successful interview can not only secure your position at the company you desire to be apart of, but also showcase your qualifications and abilities that would make you a helpful part of the team. Follow the link to read 50 common mistakes made on job interviews.

http://www.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2010/03/10/50-worst-of-the-worst-job-interview-mistakes