An interview or a business meeting is an exciting procedure. You only get one chance when you meet to make a positive impression. What are the nuances to consider?
Business card
Appearance is your calling card. And the main principles of building your image are neutrality and business modesty. Nothing should distract the interlocutor from your personality and the topic of conversation: colorful clothes, bright jewelry, rich perfume and provocative makeup. Even if this is your usual style, it is best to move away from it, at least during the first interview.
The best option has always been and remains a classic business suit in neutral colors, a strict, neat hairstyle, a minimum amount of makeup, fresh manicure, a light and unobtrusive aroma, and the absence of “rich natural odors”. Don’t forget to tidy up your hands. Often, HR specialists draw up psychological portraits for small details: for example, uneven nails can tell about mental instability, unpredictability or even alcoholism, sloppy manicure – about absent-mindedness and disorganization, dirt under the nails – about a tendency to dishonest acts. And this is a very small fraction of the grounds for refusal on which conclusions can be drawn.
Don’t forget to take off your hat. Negotiating with a hat is considered not just a sign of bad taste, but also speaks of the candidate’s extreme self-doubt.
An important point is the freshness of the breath. Never chew gum during negotiations, try to get rid of it beforehand. Be natural and don’t worry. Also, don’t forget about what anxiety can entail.
Try to be
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It will be optimal to come for an interview 15-20 minutes earlier than the appointed time, in order to once again check whether everything is in order with your documents and appearance, to tune in to a business mood before the interview. Do not enter your office earlier than the appointed time – according to the laws of business ethics, this is perceived much more negatively than being late. By doing this, you automatically encroach on the personal time of a break, smoke break or lunch provided by the personnel officer. It is better to devote this remainder of time before the start of the conversation to looking around which office you have come to. Read local announcements, if possible, talk to the secretary and other staff. This will help you gain an understanding of the corporate culture and atmosphere in the organization.