If you have not peeked into your wardrobe yet, it's time to take a real hard look now. Your application's fate depends not just on how well you answer the interview questions, but also on how well you project yourself physically. The first impression your interviewer makes about you is based on the way you look, and you know what they say about first impressions. The right dressing is a measure of the seriousness that you place on the position, as a person normally spends time on his looks if he considers an event important enough.
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job, a poor dress sense may exclude you from further consideration. Besides, given two equally good applicants, the company may choose to hire the person who is dressed more professionally. Here are some tips to give you a head start.
MEN
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks. White is still the safest and the best color for shirts. The color is also appropriate for our tropical weather. Also acceptable: pale shades such as beige, blue, and other pastels.
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves. Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an interview or any business purpose. Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your executive image.
Ties. Optional. But if you do wear one, choose a conservative pattern. Solids, small polka dots, diagonal stripes, small repeating shapes, subtle plaids and paisleys are all acceptable.
Belts. Belts should match your shoes. Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look more professional.
Socks. Black socks are the best, followed by blue or gray, depending on your attire. Never wear white socks! Check your sock length, too--no skin should show when you sit down or cross your legs. Shoes. Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them, because tassel loafers are very casual. Other suitable colors are brown, cordovan and navy.
Hair. Keep neat, short and preferably parted on the side. And shave off all those facial hair.
Jewellery. Wear no or little jewellery. The watch and wedding ring are the only acceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire. Thin gold or leather-strapped watches look professional but not digital watches. Also, avoid political or religious insignias, necklaces or bracelets. Definitely no pierced body parts, and cover up your tattoos!
Accessories. As much as possible, use leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume. Use narrow briefcases and avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place.
WOMEN
Three-piece business suits, blouse and skirt or slacks, and cardigan twin-sets. Sleeveless shirts should be rejected. Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like look. Skirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee. Nothing too revealing, please!
Panty-hose or stockings. A must for professional grooming, but nothing with overly fussy patterns. Bring an extra pair, just in case the ones you are wearing run.
Shoes. Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1½-inch heels suggest a more professional look. Dark colors are best.
Hair. Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back. Don't let it fall in front of your face and don't keep trying to fix it during the interview. Avoid large hair ornaments and trendy hairstyles.
Make-up. Be subtle; natural is the key word. Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish are recommended.
Jewellery. Be conservative. Studs of gold, silver or pearls are best. Do away with gaudy fashion jewelers, and those that clank and make noise when one moves.
Accessories. Folders and bags should blend well with the total professional look. Women should match their purse with their shoe color.
Tips for Creating a Good Cover Letter
A cover letter serves two important functions. It introduces and sells you. Putting your best foot forward means sending a thoughtful, distinct letter.
1. Keep it short. The ideal cover letter is about half a page long, and never exceeds one page. A concise letter demonstrates that you are focused and have strong communication skills. Aim for one to three brief paragraphs.
2. State the position. The recruiter who reads your letter may be hiring for several posts. While candidates who e-mail their resumes often include the job title in the subject line of their e-mails, if the recruiter prints a letter out before reading it, such information may be lost. Clearly state the job title in the first paragraph of the letter, preferably in the first sentence.
3. Explain why you want the job. Candidates should always answer the question ‘Why do I want to do this work?’ Ask yourself how the position fits into your overall career plans and what you find exciting about the particular sector. A genuine show of enthusiasm and knowledge will set you apart from those sending generic form letters.
4. Clearly describe ways you will contribute. This is the most important element of a cover letter. After carefully reading the job description, write a paragraph outlining one or two specific examples of how your skills and experiences will fit the company’s needs.
5. Match, but don’t reiterate, your resume. This is one point many job seekers find tricky. You should never claim experience in your cover letter that isn’t reflected on your resume. Doing so makes you look like a liar. At the same time, your cover letter shouldn’t simply restate your resume. When you explain the ways you will contribute, refer to an experience or skill on your resume to show how you will add value to the company.
6. Don’t say you’re not qualified. Even if you think the position is out of your reach, your job is to convince the recruiter you are qualified. If the recruiter thinks you’re unqualified, a confessional letter is not going to get you an interview. Keep the letter positive by focusing on your transferable skills and unusual accomplishments.
7. Proofread. Using a spell checker is not enough. Many recruiters will dismiss even the most qualified candidate if there’s one typographical error in the cover letter or resume. Reread your letter two or three times, then give it to someone else who knows a thing or two about good writing. Even if your letter is free of error, poor grammar also makes a bad impression.
ANSWERS THAT GET YOU HIRED
Tell me about yourself.
TRAPS: Beware; about 80% of all interviews begin with this “innocent” question. Many candidates, unprepared for the question, skewer themselves by rambling, recapping their life story, delving into ancient work history or personal matters. BEST ANSWER: Start with the present and tell why you are well qualified for the position. Remember that the key to all successful interviewing is to match your qualifications to what the interviewer is looking for. In other words you must sell what the buyer is buying. This is the single most important strategy in job hunting.
So, before you answer this or any question it's imperative that you try to uncover your interviewer's greatest need, want, problem or goal.
To do so, do all the homework you can before the interview to uncover this person's want and needs (not the generalized needs of the industry or company)
What are your greatest strengths?
TRAPS: This question seems like as an easy one. You don't want to come across as egotistical or arrogant. Neither is this a time to be humble. BEST ANSWER: You know that your key strategy is to first uncover your interviewer's greatest wants and needs before you answer questions. And from Question 1, you know how to do this.
Prior to any interview, you should have a list mentally prepared of your greatest strengths. You should also have, a specific example or two, which illustrates each of your strength, an example chosen from your most recent and most impressive achievements.
Then, once you uncover your interviewer's greatest wants and needs, you can choose those achievements from your list that best match up.
As a general guideline, the 10 most desirable traits that all employers love to see in their employees are:
A proven track record as an achiever...especially if your achievements match up with the employer's greatest wants and needs.
Intelligence...management "savvy".
Honesty...integrity...a decent human being.
Good fit with corporate culture...someone to feel comfortable with...a team player who meshes well with interviewer's team.
Likeability...positive attitude...sense of humor.
Good communication skills.
Dedication...willingness to walk the extra mile to achieve excellence.
Definiteness of purpose...clear goals.
Enthusiasm...high level of motivation.
Confident...healthy...a leader.
What are your greatest weaknesses?
TRAPS: Beware - this is an eliminator question, designed to shorten the candidate list. Any admission of a weakness or fault will earn you an “A” for honesty, but an “F” for the interview. Answers: Disguise a strength as a weakness. Example: “I sometimes push my people too hard. I like to work with a sense of urgency and everyone is not always on the same wavelength.” Drawback: This strategy is better than admitting a flaw, but it's so widely used; it is transparent to any experienced interviewer. BEST ANSWER: (and another reason it's so important to get a thorough description of your interviewer's needs before you answer questions): Assure the interviewer that you can think of nothing that would stand in the way of your performing in this position with excellence. Then, quickly review you strongest qualifications. Example: “Nobody's perfect, but based on what you've told me about this position, I believe I' d make an outstanding match. I know that when I hire people, I look for two things most of all. Do they have the qualifications to do the job well, and the motivation to do it well? Everything in my background shows I have both the qualifications and a strong desire to achieve excellence in whatever I take on. So I can say in all honesty that I see nothing that would cause you even a small concern about my ability or my strong desire to perform this job with excellence.” Alternate strategy (if you don't yet know enough about the position to talk about such a perfect fit):
Instead of confessing a weakness, describe what you like most and like least, making sure that what you like most matches up with the most important qualification for success in the position, and what you like least is not essential. Example: Let's say you're applying for a teaching position. “If given a choice, I like to spend as much time as possible in front of my prospects selling, as opposed to shuffling paperwork back at the office. Of course, I long ago learned the importance of filing paperwork properly, and I do it conscientiously. But what I really love to do is sell (if your interviewer were a sales manager, this should be music to his ears.)
Questions Job Hunters Ask:
1. What qualities are you looking for in your new hires?
2. Could you describe a typical first assignment?
3. Could you tell me about your training program?
4. What are some of the typical career paths followed by others who have been in this position? What would be a realistic time frame for advancement?
5. How is an employee evaluated and promoted?
6. What are the opportunities for personal growth?
7. What is the retention rate of people in the position for which I am interviewing?
8. What are the most challenging facets of the position?
9. What are your expectations for new hires?
10. What is the overall structure of the department where the position is located?
11. What is the work environment like?
12. How often can I expect to relocate during the initial years of employment with your company?
13. What are the company's plans for future growth?
14. Is the company stable and financially sound?
15. What is the company's record of employment stability?
16. How has your company fared during recent recessions?
17. What assurance about employment stability can I expect?
18. Is it company policy to promote from within? What is the work history of your top management?
19. What makes your firm different from its competitors?
20. What industry-wide trends are likely to affect your company?
21. What are your company's strengths and weaknesses?
22. How would you describe your corporation's personality and management style?
23. Why did you join and stay with the firm?
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
The following are typical questions that may be asked by an interviewer:
1. Tell me about yourself.
2. What accomplishment has given you the most satisfaction?
3. What do you think is your greatest weakness?
4. Why did you choose Ohio Northern?
5. What has been your most rewarding college experience?
6. What led you to major in ________________?
7. Do you think your grades adequately represent your abilities?
8. What course have you liked the least? The most?
9. How has your education prepared you for working with us?
10. What are your long-range goals?
11. What major problem have you encountered and how have you dealt with it?
12. How do you work under pressure?
13. Are you willing to relocate?
14. What do you know about my organization?
15. Why do you want to work for us?
16. Why should I hire you? What makes you a better candidate than the others I am interviewing?
17. Do you have plans for continued study?
18. What questions do you have about my organization?
19. How do you go about deciding what to do first when given a project?
20. When you have some free time, what do you enjoy doing the most?
21. Tell me about a time when you experienced a failure and how you reacted to it.
22. Tell me about a time when you were under considerable pressure to meet one or more goals.
23. Describe a situation where you had to resolve a problem at work and explain how you resolved it.
24. Tell me about an experience you have had in a working environment (school, work, or community).
What role did you play in the group?
What problems did the group have to resolve or projects did they complete?
How could the group improve their performance?
25. Describe a situation where you did not agree with something your boss asked you to do and how you resolved the problem.
