Judith johnstone pass that interview (6th ed ) (2006)

Quyển sách tiếng anh trình bày về các phương pháp,kỹ năng và nghệ thuật trong phỏng vấn xin việc.Quyển sách rất thích hợp cho sinh viên mới ra trường cũng như những người muốn có công việc tốt hơn.

Pass That Interview

If you want to know how

Handling Tough Job Interviews

Be prepared, perform well, get the job

'This book aims to prepare you for anything in job interviews, whether by a recruitment agency, headhunter, employer or human

resources department.' - MS London Weekly

Passing Psychometric Tests

Learn what to expect and get the job you want

'A very good aid for those who might find themselves facing a

psychometric questionnaire.' - Irish Examiner

Successful Interviews Every Time

'Clearly written and to the point To be interviewed without

having read it is an opportunity missed.' - The Sunday Times

Send for a free copy of the latest catalogue to:

How To Books Spring Hill House, Spring Hill Road Begbroke, Oxford, 0X5 1RX, United Kingdom

email: info@howtobooks.co.uk http://www.howtobooks.co.uk

Pass That Interview

Your systematic guide

to coming out on top

6th edition

JUDITH JOHNSTONE

howtobooks

Published by How To Content,

A division of How To Books Ltd,

Spring Hill House, Spring Hill Road,

Begbroke, Oxford 0X5 1RX United Kingdom

The right of Judith Johnstone to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act

1988

© Copyright 2005 Judith Johnstone

First published in fifth edition paperback 2005

Cover design by Baseline Arts Ltd, Oxford, UK

Produced for How To Books by Deer Park Productions, Tavistock, Devon, UK Typeset by PDQ Typesetting, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffs, UK

NOTE: The material contained in this book is set out in good faith for general guidance and no liability can be accepted for loss or expense incurred as a result of relying in particular circumstances on statements made in the book The laws and regulations are complex and liable to change, and readers should check the current position with the relevant authorities before making personal arrangements

List of Illustrations ix Preface xi

1 You Are Invited to Attend 1

Looking ahead 1 Knowing what the invitation means 3 Organising yourself 3 Replying to the invitation 16 Checklist 19

2 Personal Presentation 22

Looking good 22 Getting it right from head to toe 23 Dealing with visible accessories 26 Dealing with invisible accessories 27 Drawing up an action plan 28 Planning to stay overnight 28 Rehearsing the part 29 Improving your performance 33 Checklist 35

3 Background Preparation 37

What do I need to know? 37 Why do I need to know it? 37 Getting to know the organisation 39 Getting to know more about the job 41 The job and you 43 Some typical interview questions 45 Summing up 50 Checklist 51

4 Ready To Go 52

The day before 52 The night before 54

vi / PASS THAT I N T E R V I E W

D-day 56 Checklist 63

5 Selection Tests 64

Why are tests used? 64 What are psychometric tests? 65 Ability tests 67 Can I improve my ability test performance? 72 Personality tests 74 Answering a personality questionnaire 74 Graphology 77 Can I improve my personality test performance? 78 Preparing for the test day 78 The ideal test location 78 Managing the test procedures 79 Checklist 81

6 The Ideal Interview 82

What to expect 82 Making a good entrance 86 Answering background questions 91 Danger zones 97 Asking your own questions 100 Handling the closing stages 102 Making a good exit 102 Checklist 103

7 The Problem Interview 105

Keeping an open mind 105 The less-than-perfect interviewer 108 Coping with a problem interview 113 Checklist 117

8 The Waiting Game 118

Making the best use of the interview experience 118 Weighing up the job information 119 Reviewing your interview 121 Waiting for the result 126 Becoming the successful candidate 128 Checklist 135

C O N T E N T S / vii

9 Factors Beyond Your Control 139

What went wrong? 139 Salvaging your pride 144 Coping with continuous rejection 145 Checklist 147

10 College Interviews 149

When the interview plays a decisive role 149

"You are invited to attend / 149 The letter of invitation 150 Personal presentation 153 Background preparation 155 Getting your act together 159 Attending the college interview 159 Checklist 161 Useful addresses 163 Further reading 165 Glossary 167 Index 172

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List of Illustrations

1 Example of an interview invitation letter 2

2 Poor example of an interview acceptance letter 18

3 Good example of an interview acceptance letter 20

4 Good example of a letter declining the invitation 21

5 Mock interview questionnaire: How did I do? 36

6 Questionnaire: Personal performance review 124

7 Example of a letter seeking notification of decision 130

8 Example of a letter making an offer of employment 133

9 Example of a letter accepting an offer of employment 136

10 Example of a letter declining an offer of employment 137

ix

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to the Sixth Edition

This book is written for those who need help with theirinterview presentation skills So if you are a school-leaverseeking your first job or a place at college, someonereturning to work after a career break, or a maturecandidate wanting to brush up old or forgotten interviewskills, this book is for you

Making it onto the shortlist is the first step to success, butwhen every candidate becomes the perfect clone of the onebefore, you need to have that 'extra special something1, themagic ingredient to raise your chances above the rest This'extra special something' - which often means thedifference between success and failure applies to allinterview settings, whether you are job-hunting or seeking

a coveted place at the college of your choice

So what is this magic ingredient? Quite simply, it is

thorough pre-interview preparation The single most

common complaint by interviewers is still the persistentlack of preparation by candidates Many sit in theinterview chair without any clear idea of why they arethere; others have made no attempt to take advantage ofvaluable background data made available to them inbrochures or factsheets they received with their applicationforms Ill-prepared candidates waste everybody's time -including of course their own

xi

xii / P A S S T H A T I N T E R V I E W

In an interview you are 'selling' yourself, a process youbegan when you submitted your application form or CV.It's no longer a matter of just needing the rightqualifications or experience Although these aspects willplay their part, you now have to demonstrate you also havethe skills and competencies being sought, as well as theenthusiasm, motivation and commitment to make asuccess of the job

This book begins at the point where you receive the letterinviting you to interview and takes you step-by-stepthrough the process over nine chapters, covering topicssuch as your personal presentation and preparation, theinterview experience itself and what to do afterwards.Chapter 10 is for those who are going for collegeinterviews where selection is not automatically dependent

on academic grades

Success of course can never be guaranteed because factorsbeyond your control will always have their part to play.But as long as you feel confident you have done everythingwithin your power to achieve a positive outcome, you willnot lose by the experience

Apart from those whose help I have acknowledged inearlier editions, I would like to add my grateful thanks tothe staff of the Cumbria Learning and Skills Council, andthose of the Jobcentreplus and Connexions offices aroundthe country, all of whom helped me unravel the mysteries

of the ever-changing government initiatives Also my

P R E F A C E / xiii

thanks to the many unknown webmasters whose sites led

me here, there and everywhere on the trail of up-to-dateinformation

Judith Johnstone

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You Are Invited to Attend

LOOKING AHEAD

Congratulations on overcoming the first hurdle of any jobsearch - the selection process which decides who will, andwho will not, be interviewed This means you have alreadyadopted the right approach submitting an applicationwhich measures up to the high standard expected by yourpotential employer

At this point it is worth reminding yourself that just asuntidy or poorly prepared applications never stand achance, neither do untidy or poorly prepared candidates.The job search has to be tackled methodically If you areapplying for several jobs at once, you will already havefound it useful to keep:

* an appointments diary; and

«• a simple filing system with each application placed in a

separate folder containing copies of all relevant papers,

eg advert, job description and a copy of yourapplication

Keeping a folder for each application is important It notonly prevents you getting your papers in a muddle, it also

1

1

FENHAM & MASSEY LTD

Head Office

Fenham House, 27 Victoria Road Chillingham CHS 9XQ Telephone: (01234) 70707 Fax: (01234) 70717

My Ref: ET(T)/ED/357/PE/td This matter is being dealt with by: Your Ref: Mrs P Edwards Ext: 2439

16 December 20XX

Dear Maxine

Appointment of Engineering Technician (Trainee)

Thank you for your recent application for the above post at our Martonby engineering site.

You are invited to attend for interview at the Engineering Divisional Offices, Massey Buildings, 23 Victoria Road, Chillingham on Thursday, 13 January 20XX at 2.00 pm Could you please arrange to bring with you all your educational certificates and report to the reception desk by the main entrance

YOU ARE I N V I T E D TO A T T E N D / 3

provides a safe place for your background material andwork notes which are an essential part of pre-interviewplanning

KNOWING WHAT THE INVITATION MEANS

1 The employer is interested This might seem like

stating the obvious but it bears thinking about The

employer believes you have the right potential for the

job But

2 There will be other candidates A short list of three to

five is not uncommon Unless there is more than onevacancy on offer - which does not happen very often -the majority of candidates are going to be unsuccess-ful You don't want to be one of them

3 You need to start your pre-interview planning This

means not only brushing up on your personal

presentation but also researching into background

information, the area that is all too often ignored or

not properly thought through

of test);

who will interview you or meet you on arrival (notalways supplied);

1 Getting the right job is important

You may not get a second bite at this particular cherry.Cancelling an interview should be what you do as a lastresort

2 Interviewers don't interview all the time

They have other duties which may prevent them offeringyou alternative times or dates

3 Interviewers do not always have the last say when it comes

to filling job vacancies

Other senior staff might be pressing for the vacancy to befilled as soon as possible

4 Being able to attend without causing any unnecessary ripples demonstrates your enthusiasm

As a general rule treat the interview as taking precedenceover more commonplace events in life

YOU ARE I N V I T E D TO A T T E N D / 5

Sorting out difficulties

There are of course situations where the interview has totake second place Interviewers accept this, such as

1 A death in the family where a close relative is involved

The emphasis is on dose.

2 You will be out of the country on the date in question

Provided your absence is due to commitments which areunavoidable and impossible to rearrange, this is a validreason Holidays abroad, however, are rarely seen asbelonging to this category

3 You will be taking an examination for a nationally recognised qualification

This does not include a driving test which can berearranged relatively easily

4 You have a hospital appointment for urgent medical reasons

Non-urgent or routine visits, however, should be ranged, as should non-urgent dental appointments or

rear-visits to your GP.

If you cannot attend for any of the above reasons, alwaysask if an alternative date can be arranged, although youmay have to accept that this may not be possible

In the unfortunate turn of events when two interviews areset for exactly the same time, you have to be prepared todecide which job is the one which appeals to you more.Most employers are not prepared to vary an interviewdate for the benefit of the opposition

6 / PASS THAT I N T E R V I E W

Time may be limited, so if you want to ask for a reviseddate, or ask for advice, use the phone rather thanemailing or writing a letter If you are nervous aboutmaking telephone calls, particularly when it involvesmore than just simply confirming arrangements, make

sure you are quite clear what you want to say before you

start the call The best way to do this is jot down a guidefor yourself along the following lines:

The phone number you want (and any extensionreferred to)

The name of the person you want to speak to, ie the

writer of the letter or whoever is specifically named as

the person to contact (This is important.)

If you are calling from a pay-phone then say so If there

is likely to be any delay, ask if your contact couldphone you back and when this is likely to be, or if this

is impossible, when you should call again

Set out your problem briefly.

If you are asking for the interview to be rearranged,have your appointments diary handy to check you areable to attend should alternative times and dates besuggested

Make sure you have a plentiful supply of suitable coins ifyou have to use a pay-phone This way you are notworrying about running out of change as well as trying toput together a coherent explanation for the call.Purchasing a phonecard may be a better option

YOU ARE I N V I T E D TO A T T E N D / 7

If there appear to be problems getting in touch with yourcontact person when you are using a pay-phone, for yourown peace of mind ask to speak to a deputy, or anyoneelse who could give you a decision either immediately or ifyou called back later at an agreed time Leaving messageswith telephonists can be tricky On a busy switchboard,messages can get lost or forgotten, and you have no way ofknowing your message has not been passed on

If you manage to negotiate a new date and time for yourinterview, make sure you note down the details on theoriginal letter of invitation - and in your diary You maynot receive an up-date letter setting out the revisedarrangements If you have several interviews lined up inquick succession, it is all too easy to get into anunnecessary muddle

As an additional safeguard when making phone calls,check you have heard the information correctly Phonelines are often subject to interference or distractingbackground noises, so repeat any details and ask theperson giving them to you to confirm they are correct

Problems with the interview location

If you have applied to join a national company, forinstance, you may well be asked to attend for interview at

a regional or district office a long way from home If this

is the case you need to be aware of precisely what isinvolved

Travel arrangements

Check your route and work out how much time you need

to allow for the journey with plenty of time to spare This

8 / P A S S T H A T I N T E R V I E W

applies just as much to local as to long distance journeys.Remember, if you don't plan this part of your strategyproperly, the rest of your pre-interview preparatory workwill be wasted

What do you need to know?

Can you walk to the venue or not?

Can a relative or friend give you a lift?

Will you have to travel by train or bus?

What is involved in the journey? Are there any changesand could delays affect your arrival time if aconnection is missed?

What costs are involved?

Are there sufficient trains/buses to allow for a returnjourney the same day?

Will you need to consider overnight accommodation?

Travel costs can be expensive If you are faced with a longjourney, check your letter of invitation to see if there isany mention of financial help to offset out-of-pocketexpenses, for example:

reimbursement of fares and/or

allowances towards the cost of meals

If the distance involved between your home address andinterview is considerable, this should have been recog-nised by your potential employer Your letter of invitationshould therefore include details of suitable accommoda-tion and the level of financial help available to meet thecosts involved If there is no mention of these, check whatfinancial help is on offer, if any

YOU A R E I N V I T E D T O A T T E N D / 9

Follow the same telephone procedure recommendedearlier - know who you want to speak to and what youwant to say Explain why you are phoning and note down

on your letter any additional information you are given.Again make sure you speak to someone who is in aposition to give you a straight answer

It is especially advisable to repeat any financial detailsgiven to you over the phone to prevent misunderstand-ings Any errors can then be put right immediately Youdon't want to find yourself having any hassle about yourentitlement at some future date, particularly if you aregoing to be badly out of pocket

What if no financial assistance is on offer?

This is a matter of personal judgement: if you have plenty

of irons in the fire with several other interviews coming

up, you may decide the expense is simply not worth it.Alternatively, you might want to move heaven and earth

to have a crack at this particular job

If you are unable to finance yourself and are unemployed,don't neglect the possibility of asking your family orfriends for support, either by direct funding or byproviding accommodation if they live nearer the interviewvenue

If you are claiming certain social security benefits andmeet other criteria, you may qualify for financialassistance towards the cost of attending your interview

under the Travel to Interview Scheme Contact your

Jobcentre or Jobcentreplus office for advice as soon asyou receive your invitation Like most government

10 / PASS T H A T I N T E R V I E W

schemes, the criteria do vary over time but applicationsfor assistance always have to be made before you travel

Disability or mobility problems

Getting a crack at the employment market is hard enough

if you suffer from some form of disability So it doesn'thelp when people who are able-bodied seem unaware ofeven the most basic problems you have to face every day

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and subsequent

regulations now provide protection against discriminationfor disabled people both in work and looking for work.'Disability' is classed as being substantial and having along-term effect, ie it is expected to last for 12 months.The disability can be physical, sensory or mental andincludes severe disfigurement

If you have a disability, you should have already made thisclear in your original application If you did not, you could

be wasting everyone's time Although the Act expectsemployers to make 'reasonable adjustments' to the work-place to accommodate someone with a disability, there may

be genuine insurmountable difficulties, such as the tion of heavy plant or equipment, which would make itimpossible for you to work there

reloca-If you have any concerns over how you will beaccommodated, either in the workplace or during theinterview, it is always better to check The last thing youwant is to arrive for interview faced with unexpected andunwelcome problems which can be both unnecessary anddistressing

YOU ARE I N V I T E D TO A T T E N D / 11

Use the same telephone procedure suggested for ging the interview date If necessary - such as with hearingdifficulties - ask someone else to act on your behalf in yourpresence so that you are certain of the outcome

rearran-Not all interviews take place in the workplace Alternativevenues such as regional or head offices often handle therecruitment and selection side of larger organisations Ifyou have any doubts about whether your particular needcan be met, whether this involves car parking facilities,ramps, lifts or having someone on hand to greet you andguide you to the waiting area, for your own peace of mindcheck what is available A caring employer will makeevery effort to provide whatever help you need However,

it would not be unreasonable of you to ask to bring alongyour own helper, particularly if your disability demandedassistance from someone who knew your exact require-ments So talk through your problem, and with luck it will

be resolved If it isn't, then it's better to know at oncerather than later

What should I take with me?

The letter might be quite specific in asking you to bringcertain items, such as:

12 / P A S S T H A T I N T E R V I E W

As a general rule, take with you anything which is relevant

and which supports your application Please note the

word relevant If you burden your interviewer with masses

of unnecessary bits and pieces which do nothing toenhance your application, you may do your cause moreharm than good

Other things you might be asked to bring with youinclude:

a pen (not felt-tip)

a calculator

Regardless of the situation, it is always best to have a pen(preferably one with black ink) and paper with you Youmay need to use both at some stage during a test orinterview, and not having either when they are needed canunsettle your concentration

What if my interview involves tests?

You can expect to face a test of some sort when the jobdemands specific skills, such as an ability to handledelicate equipment or solve problems, or perhaps whereyou are required to have accuracy, speed or an ability to

use figures These are called aptitude tests.

Sometimes you will be expected to take a generalintelligence test or one which is designed to highlight

your personality traits or motivational drives, if these

factors are considered important for the job These tests

are sometimes called psychometric tests They have to be

carried out by people who are properly qualified to

administer them, either occupational psychologists or

YOU ARE I N V I T E D TO A T T E N D / 13

accredited users who have reached the standards required

by the British Psychological Society (EPS) Tests are often

arranged at a different time and date from the interview.Sometimes they are even held at a different venue, so youhave to be prepared to make the necessary arrangements

to be able to attend these as well

Your letter should tell you if your interview will includesome form of test so that you are prepared for it What itmay not tell you, however, is precisely what the testinvolves or how long it will last

Testing is being used by more and more employers as part

of the selection process and Chapter 5 looks at what isinvolved in greater detail

Any sort of testing situation is stressful Combined withinterview nerves, the effect can be traumatic Don't getyourself into the position of sitting down to begin a testwithout knowing what to expect In this situation you willsimply find yourself unable to concentrate or give of yourbest

If you are unsure about what to expect, don't hesitate to

ask well in advance Phone your contact person and write

down any information you are given for referencepurposes later Be absolutely clear you understand what

is going to be involved before you finish the call

If you have never experienced psychometric testingbefore, most good bookshops have a range of titles onthe different aspects of this topic Alternatively, a trip toyour local library could provide the answer

14 / PASS THAT I N T E R V I E W

Spending some time studying test formats will helpremove at least some of the anxiety you may feel, andanything you can do to reduce stress levels is likely to paydividends

If you suffer from any disability which would make thetest difficult to complete, do raise this straight away sothat alternative arrangements can be made for you

Who will the interviewer be?

If there is no mention of this in your invitation, make ityour business to find out It will help you to know:the name (or names, if more than one person isinvolved);

their official title; and

the position held within the organisation

Why is this important?

It tells you how many people you can expect to meet in

the interview room so you are not taken aback by theunexpected

It gives you the names and official titles of your

interviewers which can be memorised beforehand andused to good effect during the interview

It tells you who they are: your potential section or

departmental head, line manager or personnel officer.

This last point is important Knowing the organisationalrole of your interviewer, or interviewers, tells you some-thing about the sort of questions they are likely to ask andwhat they are looking for in a candidate

YOU ARE I N V I T E D TO A T T E N D / 15

Section (or departmental heads) and line managers areinterested in finding the most capable person for the job.They are practical people They probably know everythingthere is to know about the job itself and will be lookingfor the candidate with:

the right qualifications and/or experience;

in the absence of these, other transferable or portable

skills which can be adapted easily to fit the job;

a grasp of what the job involves (perhaps includingtechnical jargon);

visible enthusiasm; and

the right personality and attitude

On the other hand, a personnel or human resources officer

is likely to be less concerned about the technical orpractical side, leaving this aspect to departmentalcolleagues He or she is far more likely to be interested in:your background (to give insight into your person-ality);

what made you apply for the post;

the way you see yourself developing in future;

your possible career pattern; and

what additional training you might need

Ready for action

At this point you should have:

all the necessary information to help you decidewhether or not to accept the invitation; and

16 / P A S S THAT I N T E R V I E W

a clearer picture of what the interview process willinvolve

REPLYING TO THE INVITATION

Even if you are not specifically asked to confirm yourattendance, make sure that you do so

In the sample letter at the beginning of the chapter, thecandidate is allowed to choose for herself how to makecontact with Mrs Edwards However, if you are givenexact instructions as to the sort of reply expected, then

follow these precisely Don't risk losing 'Brownie points'

before you start

Confirming or declining the invitation by phone

Go through the routine discussed earlier in the chapter sothat you are quite clear who you are phoning and whatyou want to say Also consider the following:

Have you to phone at a certain time or before a specified date?

Do you have details of the job vacancy to hand? It may

be one of several the person you are contacting iscurrently dealing with

Are you mentally prepared for not getting through to your contact person? In the absence of your contact, ask

if you should call again and at what time, or leave amessage with someone who is in a position to pass it tothe appropriate person (A secretary or personalassistant is a good bet.)

YOU ARE I N V I T E D TO A T T E N D / 17

If you are declining the invitation, be prepared to have to give your reasons Make them good Be brief and to the

point DON'T WAFFLE

Confirming the invitation by letter

Whether you are accepting or declining the invitation,before you put pen to paper check the following:

Have you to address the letter to someone other than the writer? If so, who? Remember if you address someone

by name, you should close the letter 'Your sincerely'.'Yours faithfully' is used for formal letters beginning'Dear Sir' or 'Dear Madam'

Is there a reference which you have been asked to quote

on any correspondence?

Has the letter to be received by a certain date? If so, aim

to reply well before the deadline.

Sketch out a rough draft - or several if necessary - and be

completely satisfied with the result before producing the

finished product Pay attention to detail to show you have

clearly understood the instructions you have been given.Refer back to the sample letter at the beginning of thechapter and then look at the acceptance letter Maxine haswritten (page 18) What is wrong with it? See if you can dobetter by drafting your own reply and then compare thiswith Maxine's second attempt set out on page 20

Declining the invitation by letter

If you have to decline the offer, keep it simple Unlikedeclining by phone where you may be pressed into giving

18 / PASS THAT I N T E R V I E W

a reason for your decision, you do not need to state yourreasons in a letter However, adopt the same businesslike,methodical approach to your reply as you would if youwere writing an acceptance A suggested format is set out

on page 21

In all your dealings with potential employers, keep yourstandards high You may find yourself applying for a jobagain with the same organisation at some time in thefuture

Confirming or declining the invitation by email

Remember in this situation you are not chatting to afriend or colleague but making formal contact with apotential future employer Treat the email as you would aletter Keep it businesslike If you have not been asked toprovide email details previously and your email addressdoes not clearly identify who you are, use your full namewhen you sign off

Fig 2 Poor example of an interview acceptance letter.

YOU ARE I N V I T E D TO ATTEND / 19

CHECKLIST

Do you have to confirm/decline the invitation by acertain date?

Do you have to contact a named person?

Do you have to confirm/decline in writing, by email or

by phone?

Are there any problems over the date, time or place ofinterview?

Have you resolved these?

Are you likely to have to complete any tests at somestage during the interview? Are you clear about whatwill be involved?

Have you been asked to take any specific tion or equipment with you? Would anything else beuseful?

documenta-Do you know who will be interviewing you? documenta-Do youappreciate the significance of this information?Have you mastered the use of the telephone to obtainand pass on essential information?

Are you confident you can compose an appropriatewritten reply in a businesslike manner?

Fig 3 Good example of an interview acceptance letter.

20

Fig 4 Good example of a letter declining the invitation.

21

Personal Presentation

LOOKING GOOD

If there is one time when first impressions count, this isundoubtedly when you go for interview Most peopleinvolved with the selection of candidates admit to making

up their minds about the person sitting in front of themwithin the first two minutes - in some cases even less.There's not much point in complaining this is unfair: it'shuman nature to make snap judgements about otherpeople for the flimsiest of reasons Later on, when we get

to know them better, we may change our minds

Recruiters are human, too The difficulty in their case isthey only have a very limited time in which to get to knowyou Their immediate reaction is therefore crucial

If they like what they see, they are more liable to disregardother factors which might have counted against you This

is known as the halo effect On the other hand, if you make

a poor, or even bad impression right from the start, thesesame factors are almost certain to assume a greaterimportance - usually to your detriment This is called the

cloven hoof effect.

Personal presentation is all about looking good in thewidest possible sense How you look and behave tells your

22

2

P E R S O N A L P R E S E N T A T I O N / 23

interviewer a great deal about your attitude, perhaps notonly towards a particular job but work in general.Anything about you which sends a negative message isbad news

GETTING IT RIGHT FROM HEAD TO TOE

Hair

No matter what type of job you are going for, your hair

should always be clean and well-groomed It simply

doesn't pay to look scruffy Wild styles and exotic coloursshould also be avoided An interview is not the time orplace to make a statement about your freedom to engage

in self-expression, unless perhaps you are seeking ment in the artistic field

employ-Hair should never be allowed to obscure your eyes: it givesthe impression you are trying to hide behind it, andprevents good visual contact between you and yourinterviewer which is vitally important At the same time,make sure it is under control Wrestling with a style whichrequires constant readjustment will not only irritate mostinterviewers but break your own concentration

Beards and moustaches

He-man types please note Rampant facial hair looksuntidy, so both beards and moustaches should be well-trimmed and under control Avoid cultivating a droopymoustache, as this tends to give an unintentionallygloomy, down-in-the-mouth appearance

Regardless of what the current trend may be, take thetrouble to shave

24 / PASS THAT INTERVIEW

Spectacles

If you wear spectacles, they inevitably affect yourappearance They should be clean, properly adjusted (sothey don't sit on your nose at a ludicrous angle), andshould not be broken or amateurishly mended with apiece of sellotape or fuse wire

An interview is not the right place to wear sunglasses orthe latest in mirror lenses As with your hair, anythingwhich prevents eye-to-eye contact with your interviewershould be avoided

Teeth and mouth

Not everyone is blessed with a natural film-star smile, butregular dental checks should be part of your personalmaintenance regime So should daily brushing You can'tafford to be seen with the remnants of your last mealwedged visibly between your teeth

Don't let bad breath ruin your chances either Howevermuch you enjoy garlic, keep it off the menu for at least 24hours before your interview and for good measure treatyourself to an effective mouth wash as well

Make-up

Remember you are going for an interview and not a nightout on the town Unless your prospective job calls for awildly extrovert appearance, tone down over-brightcolours and heavy eye-liners What looks good in adisco can seem garish or even ghoulish in daylight

Hands

Don't turn up with dirty or ragged finger nails Even if

P E R S O N A L P R E S E N T A T I O N / 25

your hobby sees you up to your elbows in machine oil,there are good proprietary brands of hand cleanserswhich, with the help of a nail brush, work wonders.Ragged nails not only look unsightly, the sharp edges aretempting to fiddle with or pick at when you are understress

Clothes

In general, choose clothes that are neat, tidy, clean andwell-fitting, and preferably made from fabrics which wearwell and do not crease Suits - both the male and femalevariety - are still expected by most interviewers,particularly if the job is to be office-based

If you do not own a suit, choose clothes which you wouldwear to other formal occasions, or which could be

described as 'smart casual" Jeans and T-shirts do not

come under this category

Your choice of clothes should boost your self-confidence

as well as promote your image in the eyes of others Takeinto account what colours suit you best and the effectdifferent seasons have on your skin tone Outfits whichlook stunning on you in summer can often look oddly out

of place in the depths of winter and vice versa

Shoes

Let these complement the rest of your outfit by being bothclean and well-maintained If you decide to buy a new pairfor the occasion, wear these around the house to breakthem in beforehand It can be hard to concentrate if halfyour mind is thinking how much your feet are hurting