- Greet every single person in the room with eye contact and a handshake. Be sure to treat everyone from the receptionist to the CEO equally.
- Shake hands firmly, but not too firmly. You're a job interviewee, not a father meeting his daughter's boyfriend.
- Control your voice when you speak. Talking too loud is obnoxious. Mumbling is annoying.
- Don't use slang when you greet people. 'Hey, how ya doin'?' is not a proper greeting in a formal setting.
- Don't be a space invader. Try to stay 36 inches away from everyone at all times. People have boundaries and nobody likes their space invaded.
- Be conscious of your posture when sitting or standing. Try not to slouch or look too stiff.
- Don't sit down anywhere until you are asked to. When you do sit, don't fidget. It makes you look nervous.
- Keep hand talking to a minimum. It is okay to make gestures while speaking, but it is not okay to look like a mime while doing it--unless you are interviewing for a job as a mime. Then it's acceptable.
- If you are given water or something else to drink, sip it. Gulping and chugging a beverage is unattractive.
- Smile and nod your head on occasion when being spoken to so you don't look like a mannequin.
- Try to look interested when people speak--no matter how boring they are.
- Keep answers short and to the point. Nobody wants to listen to you babble.
- When you do answer a question, don't start out with words like 'uh' or 'um.'
- Do your best to sound confident when you speak.
- Remember to maintain eye contact throughout the job interview. Looking away while someone is talking will make you seem disinterested, shy or shifty.
- If you are being interviewed by multiple people, try to look at them all while talking. Nobody should feel left out of the conversation.
- Ask questions! You're at an interview, not an interrogation. Employers will expect you to have at least one question about the job, the company or the people you will be working with.
- Don't look at the clock or your watch at any point during the interview. It makes you look like you'd rather be somewhere else.
- If you are left alone in a room, don't do anything you wouldn't do in front of a group of people. You might be on camera.
- This should go without saying, but we'll say it anyway: Don't flirt with anyone you meet on the day of your job interview. You have no idea who you are hitting on or how it might impact your chances of getting the job.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
During Job Interview: Shake hands firmly, but not too firmly.
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