Wait, Don't Wear that to Your Interview

Have you ever met someone and your first thought of character came from how they presented themselves, whether you thought they carried themselves good or bad. The same applies when you meet your potential employer for the first time. They're first judgment kicks in the moment you present yourself when you first walk in their office.

Here are a few pointers on what not to do when you go in for an interview.

ATTIRE/APPEARANCE

When you dress for an interview make sure what you wear matches the job you're applying for. Never go into an interview with the same clothes you wore the night before. I know this sound like common sense but sometimes we lose track of time or hang out the previous night forgetting to bring a change of clothes with. When this happens allow yourself enough time to go home and change into proper clothes, club wear is a huge no-no for an interview.

Make sure your shoes are nice, clean, and appropriate. Ladies your shoes should be business like if you're going in for a business interview. If you're going for a construction job interview you don't have to wear huge clunky construction boots, casual shoes are perfectly fine. Usually heals shouldn't be worn for this type of interview. Also make sure your shoes are comfortable, you don't want your thoughts to be focused on the pain your feeling from your feet. It takes away from what you should be concentrating on, the interview.

The hair should also be kept simple, no extravagant colors or moussed up dues are usually accepted in the business world. Depending on the type of interview you're going to simplicity is key.

Also make sure your clothes are nice an ironed, or throw them in the dryer for a wrinkle free crispness. If you present yourself as sloppy the impression of your work can be taken as sloppy.

When presenting a resume' don't fold it, it looks unprofessional and careless. Always put your resume' in a folder or a resume' holder, it looks well put together and professional. Keep the designs to a minimal your interviewer is more interested in your skills and presentation whether than flowers and pictures posted all over your resume'.

SMOKING

If you're a smoker wait till after your interview to smoke. Nothing wreaks more to a non-smoker than the smell of cigarettes filling the room. Also don't drown yourself with loud perfumes or cologne to cover up a scent, a shower and a little dance in sprayed mist will do fine.
As an inside tip most non-smokers see smokers as always wanting to take a fifteen minute smoke break, keep smoking private and to a minimum while going in for your interview.

ATTITUDE

Always maintain a positive attitude when going in for an interview, body language is the most powerful language of all and a negative attitude can be detected. Go in with the confidence that that particular company needs you and mean it, but don't come off as cocky. A pet peeve for almost anyone is a cocky person that can't provide the results they say they can deliver, be realistic and truthful knowing you can provide great services for that company/job.

Stay calm, if you find yourself getting overly excited or nervous just take a deep breathe and think of calming thoughts. If you made it to the interview know you can make it further, your future potential employer is the same as you are...... a person. Stay calm, focused, and try to keep fidgeting to a minimum, the fidgeting shows lack of confidence.

Communication can also be a part of attitude; don't try to become buddy buddy with your interviewer. A quick relationship is needed but don't tell the interviewer about how you and your pals went to the local strip club and got trashed last night, even if they seem down to earth and easy to talk to. Keep things strictly professional and all about how you can perform the duties your applying for. Remember your first impression will be the last impression when you walk out the door, so make it a good one.

To make things a little simpler think of your interview as a first date, you want to look good, smell nice, and show strong qualities. Finesse your interviewer so your impression can be remembered long after your gone so you can surely get a call.