First impressions are critical and are based on your appearance. The interviewer will start forming an opinion of you before your interview begins. Most employers believe that people who look as if they care about themselves are more likely to care about their job. Your goal should be to come across in the best possible light – attractive in the way you dress, in your gestures and facial expressions an in your speech. DRESS There is only one way to dress for the first meeting – professional. This means clean cut and conservative. Unless you apply for a creative position in a very creative company. Dressing appropriately is important to establish credibility and be seen as a person who can be part of a team. Ensure that your appearance is clean and tidy. A suit is the best form of dress for both men and women. Your most professional colours are still dark blue, black or charcoal with a white shirt or blouse and a red tie. As a general rule, the more clothing you have on the more credible and persuasive, the more business-like you will appear. This does not mean that you should wear a three-piece suit for an interview when the temperature soars to 35 degrees, it simply means you have more credibility. It would also depends what type of position you are applying for. Forget about personal style. You can always wear your “personal style” wardrobe once you have the job and know the company culture. Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. Ladies: wear stockings. The less skin you show, the higher your credibility. Trousers with a jacket, or a formal shirt goes well together. No extremely short skirts or daring necklines. Wear light make-up and ensure to freshen it up prior your interview. Keep your make up fresh and don’t let the make up wear you. Wash your hair, groom your nails. Clear nail polish; even if you are not accustomed to wearing nail varnish. Put your bag down besides you, where it does not obstruct movement or is in the way. (Always switch that cell phone off.) Men; Refrain from wearing your earrings, short clean cut nails and suit and tie. General tips: Take a tissue or handkerchief with you to dry possible damp brows or clammy hands before meeting with your interviewer. Greet you interviewer by his/her surname with a smile and a firm handshake. (Don’t break your interviewer’s hand.) A firm handshake shows confidence and establishes good rapport. It is perfectly normal to show some sign of slight nervousness, it shows that you are taking the interviewer serious. Wait until you are offered a chair before you sit down. Do not smoke during the interview, even if your interviewer smokes or offer you one. Accept a non alcoholic beverage when offered or ask for a glass of water. If extremely nervous, refuse in the event of spillage. Do not chew gum. Do not call anybody by they first name, unless you are invited to do so. Use a persons name when talking. This allows you to get and keep the persons attention. Do not be late. Be there 5-10 minutes early and announce yourself at reception 5 minutes prior your interview. It gives you a chance to look at the company’s news letters, brochures and to view the overall employee’s satisfaction and interaction. You will be able to form an opinion about the company. If you are too early for an interview, the interviewer will get agitated and you might feel uncomfortable. Sit upright but relaxed, do not cross your arms or slouch and try to look your interviewer in the eyes. Look rather than stare at the interviewer. Focus your attention upon him rather than gazing around the room. Inappropriate smiling is the most common example of non-verbal behaviour that undercuts verbal messages, making you seem weak and unassertive. Fill in application forms or do tests if required. This is formality or based on the company’s policies. You will create suspicion or unnecessary trouble if you argue about it or refuse to do so. Fill all documentation in neatly and as accurate as possible. Do not fill in a salary figure, write down negotiable. Speak clearly and concisely. Avoid verbal clutter. Poor communicators tend to talk in paragraphs. Successful communicators talk in short sentences. Do not mumble or try to disguise dialects or regional accents as this will only create more problems for you later in the interview. Technical questions can cause problems, but if you think carefully before making a response and ensure that your answer shows initiative, common sense and imagination, you will not trip up at this stage. An intelligent reply, even if not strictly correct, will satisfy. Remember the use of voice, eyes, posture and your overall attitude can often make up deficiencies in other areas. If you are attending a panel interview, try not to direct all answers and questions to one person. Look and speak to the whole panel. Have a writing pad at hand with your questions and feel free to take down the alternative note. Write down the second interviewing time as soon as you reach your car and make arrangement to ensure that you are free. Express your interest that you want the job from the beginning and then confirm at the end of the interview. A positive attitude is very important even when you have doubts about the job. It is very easy to decline a position once a job had been offered but not easy to retrieve an interview after suddenly realising that it is exactly the job that you were looking for. Make sure the interviewer knows that you want the position.