So you have been waiting with baited breath for the phone call of your life. You have sent out your résumés and CVs to potential companies, hoping to land your dream job. Your cell phone goes off, and the words on your receiving end ring like a Christmas jingle.
“You have been shortlisted for an interview.”
You gasp for air, trying to contain your exhilaration yet appear nonchalant over the phone. You ended the call with a very pleasant thank you. Even for a casual conversation, you did great. You hang up and you sift through your work diary, trying to recall which company it is you tried out for. Yes, in all of that excitement you missed the introduction.
It is true what they say; just being shortlisted is half the battle won. As we all know it, the interview process is pivotal to victory. We have yet to meet a person who landed a high salary job through presentation of his résumé alone. You can have the most impressive résumé, consummated with years of education at Harvard, Stanford and still find yourself stranded. Book smart is a thing of the past.
While education history is still relevant, employers are on the prowl for candidates who are confident, street smart, interesting and enthusiastic. Even a dash of humor can’t hurt you. And as a man of swagger, these traits may come naturally to you, but sometimes we crack under severe scrutiny and intense pressure. We lose that personality of ours in the short 20 minutes.
Remember this is not your high school part time retail job. You cannot just “wing it” for an interview and expect to land the job. Employers are not just interviewing you; they have seen their fair share of candidates and they can see right through you if you are ill-prepared.
What do you do when your future employer is staring you down because your joke went unimpressed? Fret not. Swagger Essentials is here to tide you over the battle of your life. The preparation for your interview starts right at the moment you disconnect the call. Here are pre-interview tips that would gear you up for the moment of truth!
1) Research the company
Do your homework. Whether you want to check up on the company’s portfolio or check out the eye candies of your company, do your homework. All thanks to technology, information is widely available these days. You will definitely be quizzed on what you know of the company and what you can bring to the table. Keep your eyes open on areas of interest and expertise. Look at their clientele relations; your vast knowledge of the financial world will come in handy if they deal with local banks.
We’re not sure if this would constitute as stalking, but we do believe it helps to calm your mind when you know a little bit more about the person who’s interviewing you. Look him up in social network sites such as Facebook or Myspace. After all, these sites are there at your disposal, why not use it? It’s fairly simple; just enter the name of the company in the search engines and a couple of results should return. If you’re lucky, your interviewer has an account.
Just be sure to turn on the privacy setting so that they do not know you have viewed their profiles. Also, do not weave in any personal information into your conversation, like “Hey! I saw on your Facebook that you like Grey’s Anatomy. I’m a big fan too!”
S.T.A.L.K.E.R!
2) Portfolio
Think of your portfolio as your lucky charm. The feeling of consternation arises with every interview and you can find yourself fumbling over the topic of discussions. You might feel that the interview is beginning to be a drag of dichotomous answers. During the course of the interview, when you feel that things aren’t looking up for you, fish out your portfolio.
A well prepared portfolio can turn things into your favor. Immediately, you spruce up the interview with visuals and exciting ideas and actual presentation of your capabilities. You now have the attention of your employers on you.
A common question with portfolios is “what to include?” Here is where your research comes in handy. Select the few articles from your previous projects that you think would interest your interviewers the most. Throw in a few others that have little pertinence just to display your all rounded versatility. Only include articles that show your flair and talent and have both artistic and commercial values.
The next question at hand is, “should I really be showing my portfolio?” If you’re asking this question, then chances are, the answer is no.
3) Dress the part
Unless you’re auditioning for a Broadway musical, lose the Charlie Chaplin get-up. Unless you’re looking to supplant the person who is interviewing you AKA CEO of the company, lose the blazer. Let’s face it. Interview is just a fancy euphemism for first impression. Whether it is your ‘style’ or not, don’t even consider wearing a wife beater to an interview.
For the fellas, choosing an outfit is very straightforward. Just throw on a shirt and a pants and put on a tie and you’re ready to go. You look dapper for your corporate job interview with minimal preparation. Just be sure not to wear overtly bold colors or over accessorize with your cuff links.
For the ladies, dressing up is a little bit more complicated. There is no need to slip into your gowns just yet. A simple power suit would suffice. While old dogs would appreciate the gesture, conservative hags would not take too kindly to cleavages and skin. Your safest option is still your power suit, which immediately steals attention while sending a message, “I’m serious business.”
If you’re interviewing for the job of a creative person; the kind of culture where most people go to work in their berms and slippers (we envy you!), your personality is reflected in your choice of dressing. Ditch the usual shirt and pants routine; take it up a notch and pull out your most exciting outfit! Just remember, it is not Halloween.
4) Smile
And not just to the panel of interviewers seated right across you in that stark cold room. From the moment you come striding in through that front door, smile. Many people neglect this because they think that they need not impress their future colleagues. They couldn’t be any farther from the truth.
Flaunting that engaging smile of yours shows that you are at ease and not in the least bit apprehensive. You exude confidence when you smile. Perception is reality; when you think that you are not nervous, you aren’t.
It is important to greet everyone you meet with a smile. See someone in the pantry room making coffee? Don’t automatically assume it’s an intern. Make sure you acknowledge her presence. Who knows, she might be on the Board of Directors waiting to interview you. Be sure to also chat heartily with the receptionist, because she has the most dealings in the company. You never know if she’s the one hitting the sack with your CEO; a receptionist works directly under the boss. A few brownie points can help you gain a foot in the company.
So, unless you’re missing a tooth from a street fight the day before, smile.
Some useful links:
Should I wear something revealing?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNDHno_H_dw]
Writing your resume
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