Women24 - Interview know-how

Ancestry24 Answerit Careers24 Entertainment Fin24 Food24 GoTravel24 Health24 Kalahari.net Mobile News24 Play Property24 Sport24 Weather24 Wheels24 Women24

Paper is so last season

Tech-savvy youngsters are making coupon clipping a thing of the past and turning to their mobile phones instead.

Women are more cautious

Fewer women get duped by fraudulent investment schemes because they are generally more risk-averse than men.

Book Club | Astrology | News |

Celeb Gossip | Soapbox | Hotties | Series Addicts |

your voice, every day

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.


Ask an expert...


Sponsor Links First for Women Dial Direct Your Homeloans UK Lotto Life Insurance Classified ads Car Rental Best Car Deals Compare Insurance Quotes Life Insurance for Women

15 April 2008

Interview know-how

If you don't feel good about yourself, there's no chance an interviewer will feel any differently...

The blunt truth is, you may have the most impressive work/study pedigree behind you, but if you shuffle into an interview looking, smelling or sounding off, you may as well do a Daffy and duck right away. "The way people get hired is usually in a very unscientific fashion," observed Gerard le Roux, a job-hunting coach and former recruitment agent. Essentially, you have to be ruthless with yourself and use every means at your disposal to make that breakthrough. So, first things first, and what else is there but that initial impression?

Looking good… or not?
So, you arrive just on time, stumble out of your dusty jalopy, adjust your skirt that has hitched a ride upwards and tuck in a shirt to hide a missing button. On the way in you are stuffing papers to the bottom of your handbag. Not so fast: you've been spotted… by your interviewer a few floors up. Impression? Disorganised, sloppy, maybe not too interested.

It is critical to remember that first imprint is the most important, the one that could either make or break your chances – and it happens way before you open your mouth. Your potential employer can, in an instant, form a lasting impression of you, and if you pull in with a negative body image that's you done for, probably. Unfair? Yes, but the fact is that an interview is a highly subjective encounter where the interviewer offers the job to the person he or she likes best.

Wrong or right, if you are physically out of shape a negative impression is often formed. "What does the market perceive about someone who is greatly overweight? That they have a lack of control and discipline and are possibly lazy," noted Le Roux. "You are dealing with a perception and you have to manage it. People must take responsibility and deal with these issues." The good news is that if you have compensating factors, like a great personality, these will shine through and go a long way towards creating a brilliant impression – and that's where body image is so important. If you feel good about yourself others will too. Some companies do not rely on the perceptions or whims of one person, but rather conduct panel interviews, which is one way of getting a more objective grilling.

Let's talk
Once you are through the door and have done the handshake (limp is weak, vicelike is overconfident) it's time for the vocals. "It's not what you say, but how you say it," is the view of Monique Rissen-Harrisberg of The Voice Clinic. "Research shows that 38% of every communication message is attributed to the quality of the voice." If you mumble and stumble the interviewer is going to be wondering just how you are going to communicate with clients. Granted, some jobs are not that interactive, but you will only be doing yourself a favour by having good communication skills. So:

speak clearly and enthusiastically about your experiences and skills

make eye contact, something many women don't do. Direct eye contact and holding your head erect is important if you want to look interested and appear confident.

Lower your pitch (no, don't growl) as this is more often associated with assertion, and talk slower, an important way to get across a good idea. Your rate of speech needs to be evenly paced – and ditch the giggles.

Aim for a full-bodied voice rather than a squeaky, strident one

Dress for success
If you want to be taken seriously, you have to dress the part. And this doesn't mean overdressing. "The more dressed up you are, the more someone will feel: 'Hang on, this person is trying way too hard to impress me,' " said Le Roux. A lot of it depends on the nature of the company: if you are looking for a creative position then be a bit creative in your dress, but it's probably best not to go into direct competition with the art director just yet.

Generally you can't go wrong with a skirt and jacket, or trousers and jacket, and black is always good as a basic

NO visible G-strings please

Aim for clean lines, rather than frills and flounce

Jewellery should not shake, rattle and roll

Perfume should not be an all-consuming affair

Clean nails and hair is vital as is fresh breath (one recruitment counsellor recalls an excellent candidate who left his office smelling like a sewer due to horrendous halitosis).

Behave yourself
Even if you discover both you and the interviewer think Graeme Smith is the cutest thing on the oval these days, don't get too chummy about it right now. And don't fiddle with any executive toys and paperweights on the interviewer's desk.

Nervous hand habits like nail biting, hair twirling and hand twitching can convey insecurity. On the other, ahem, hand, steepling your fingers in an upright position when answering a question can be perceived as arrogant, saying: "I know more about this subject than you."

This is also when the Girl Scout in you has to make an appearance. In other words: be prepared, know what the company is about and know what you want. Think of the most difficult questions and do your homework. If you get thrown with: "So, where do you see yourself in 10 years time?" don't get wise and say: "In your seat, buddy." Rather aim for the safer: "I'm not looking that far in advance at this point – my priority is to be in a company where I can enjoy working as well as have career aspirations."

Need to know basis
Remember these and you are well on your way to cracking that follow-up interview:

Never underestimate how long it can take you to get somewhere – an interviewer is not too interested in that traffic jam on the corner of Corlett Drive and Rudd Avenue.

Don't accept an offer of tea or coffee: it is polite of him/her, but they really don't want the hassle.

Ask questions: about the position, the company, the challenges facing you.

Now is not the time to ask about salary and how much leave you could get – it shows a preoccupation with "what do I get out of this?"

Follow-up the interview, within 24 hours, with a letter or an e-mail – an SMS is not fine.

Switch off your cellphone

If you need a makeover get going with it now: if you need a job in the competitive IT industry, then now is not the time to look like an academic.

If you are not networking you are dead in the water. You have to be more competitive than ever, especially if you don't just want a job, but a great job.

Previously published in SHAPE, Subscribe now and save

Share this page

What are social bookmarks?

	Digg	Facebook	del.icio.us	Reddit
PRINT \| EMAIL

Dreading the interview?
Climb that ladder
Top 10 career tips


Article Search

Have something to say?


Your name *email Subject Comment


Thank you..food for thought for next time..

Cat on 15.04.2008 at 12:08

Hai i would like to know exactly what does the interviewer want about myself?

Bantu Landingwe on 15.04.2008 at 14:45

Interviewing methods in SA are terrible in , in the UK they do not look at weight, age or colour and there is most defintely no affirmative action. I think SA needs to take another look at their interviewing techniques.

Ingrid on 15.04.2008 at 16:12

The law in the UK may say that they may not look at weight, age or colour, but be assured that inherent prejudices are there in each interviewer and you or even he/she may not even be aware of it.

DW on 16.04.2008 at 07:57

FYI

Sonja on 16.04.2008 at 08:05

Most interesting indeed - something i will consider when i hit the streets next month in big Joey's - after Cape Town's laid back mentality I need something like this! Why does weight have to be an issue though? It is not my size that is doing the work but my brain!

Sam on 16.04.2008 at 09:59

Recent I was interviewed for a position involving much person interaction. With my past work history being more administrative and so not entailing this, it is something I feel a desperate need to get out of. I was judged on questions entailing responses based on the type of work done during past employment. Feeling I would fit the part concerned (as did many others) I felt it a great disadvantage when the interviewer well aware of my situation still insisted on choosing to handle it as she saw fit. Refusing to base it on personality, I felt a more direct approach to the position being advertised should have been made. The opportunity to prove myself; as someone desperately seeking more, I was prepared to forfeit much in needing the chance of meeting people and the new challenges involved in the job. This constatly being indicated as proof of my loathing to be stuck between 4 walls with no personal contact for any further period of time. Thanking you for some excellent advice adding Sam's last comment taking the cake.

Sue on 16.04.2008 at 20:45

Article: Robyn von Geusau from SHAPE
Image: Getty Images

Career crisis?

Junior C & I Technicians/Engineers
Gauteng - Johannesburg

C & I Technicians/Engineers
Gauteng - Johannesburg

Senior Control Systems Engineer
Gauteng - Johannesburg

C & I Technician/Engineer
Gauteng - Johannesburg

MCDBA (Database Administrator)
Gauteng - Johannesburg
more jobs » Conquer the interview
Create the perfect CV