Contents
Look after your appearance for a professional interview
Make an effort of general presentation. Banish questionable nails, oily hair, dark circles, dull complexion, etc. If you are too neglected, you are unlikely to make your future employer envy. Make yourself a small homemade hammam the night before. It’s also a great way to wind down before bed. On the program: exfoliating scrub, hydrating mask, shine shampoo and French manicure. Only avoid homemade skin cleansing if you don’t want to look like a calculator for three days …
Dress is also essential. Choose it before the big day. Plan laundry or dry cleaning accordingly if you are not shopping! This will prevent you from flipping your closet in search of that famous shirt which, in fact, is in the laundry basket. And all this at the last moment. Hello stress! Your dress style is important because it reflects part of your personality. Keep it simple, elegant, close to the codes of your sector and your future business. Outfits that are too sexy, too colorful, or too sad are often unwelcome. Tasteful sobriety always wins.
Get in shape on the big day
Go to bed early. If you are too nervous, take Euphytose®, a soft and effective homeopathic calming agent. Make a real breakfast. Force yourself if you have a knot in your stomach. Food is the fuel for your physical and mental functioning. If you are already nervous and leave on an empty stomach, chances are you will become unwell at the wrong time! With a well-rounded, rested, fresh and rested stomach, you will be better able to insure yourself. A job interview is tiring because it mobilizes a great deal of nervous tension. We come out exhausted. No need to get on your knees, or worse, with a hangover!
On D-Day, take the time to prepare. Plan a preparation time longer than usual to be punctual, the game is worth the candle! Check the business address several times. If you take public transport, anticipate the purchase of your ticket. This will prevent you from wasting time at the cash register. Calculate the journey time and find out about traffic conditions. If you are broad in terms of timing, you won’t be stressed by the unexpected or have to run to be on time. Any delay is crippling. Nothing worse than arriving at the last moment, breathless, red and shaggy. Did you fall out of bed? Sit in a cafe to wait until the appointed hour with the morning papers. A little joke on the news skilfully slipped during the interview and presto, you are a cultivated woman and open to the world …
Learn about the company you meet
If this is truly the job of your dreams, you should know the company in question. “Be careful, however, to distinguish between the fantasy of the dream job and the real job. You would risk being disappointed if you are only in the fantasy and not in the real passion, in the concrete practice of the profession in question ”, specifies Karine. Do some research before the interview. If you know the working methods, the results, the habits, and the culture of the company, do not hesitate to show it during the interview. Likewise, you will not be told to reread the job offer and the skills required: if this job is for you, you already know the specifics and do not need to revise the job description. This is no reason to arrive with your hands in your pockets. However, consider what unique you can offer your employer. Your “added value” in a way! Of course, it is you who will be on the grill, don’t let that prevent you from preparing your questions. This will show that you are curious and responsive.
Adopt the right attitude towards the recruiter
The first impression you make is crucial. As soon as you arrive, be smiling, kind and natural with everyone you meet, especially at the reception. “When I go looking for a candidate, I often stop by the reception desk to ask the hostesses for their impressions,” Karine confides! Be courteous and courteous. As soon as the recruiter shows up, smile, reach out, say hello, and wait for them to invite you to sit down when you walk into their office. “Don’t behave like you’re on conquered territory!” »Look the person in the eye, don’t look away. “On the other hand, there’s no point in trying to pretend you’re perfectly comfortable. The recruiter knows very well that you risk being tense, he knows the difference between a little natural nervousness and a bad attitude, trust him! », Reassures us Karine.
On the practical side, do not forget your glasses, plan a notebook, and a pen. “Remember to slip a copy of your CV, your diplomas and your last payslips (you show that you are honest about your salary expectations too) in your bag before you leave. If you work in a creative sector, do not hesitate to bring a book with examples of your work. This approach is always very popular with recruiters ”.
Strategy and diplomacy
Be clear and concise in the way you express yourself. Avoid long pauses or uncontrolled monologues. Don’t tell your life story unless you are asked to, and don’t try to show off. Again, keep it natural. If you have prepared the interview well, you can allow yourself a little spontaneity. Do not reread your CV in front of your interlocutor! You can take notes, and if you have a problem with a question, rephrase it to give you time to think about it. Always argue your claims. “Above all, always try to show what your professional experience and skills can bring to the position you want. Bring out the coherence of your course, to show your legitimacy ”. Finally, never lie. The recruiter always feels it. You can have holes in your CV or bad experiences, what matters is being honest. Show that you have learned something from these trials and you will come out a winner. Finally, a little advice: at the first meeting, never broach the question of remuneration or leave on your own. It will be for the next meeting with the HRD. Good luck to you !