7 Handy Tips cont...

4)     Hair. Clean cut, conservative unless you’re looking for work in a rock band. Since your smile will draw attention to your face and head, this is where you must look most professionally captivating.

5)     Wardrobe. Clean, pressed, well fitting, with conservative color combinations. You want to be the focus of your interviewer’s attention, not your bright red shirt or blouse. Subconsciously it’s very difficult to ignore distracting, wild, aggressive colors or patterns.

6)     Hands and Fingernails. I suggest a manicure. Try to put off changing the oil and filter on your Ferrari™ until AFTER the interview. Dirty petroleum products love to impregnate your nails and skin. Ditto for painting. Don’t worry about your toenails. You will wear closed toed shoes, right?

7)     For the icing on your cake, which item or part of you do most interviewers critically examine? Give up? Your shoes. As you approach, a glance at your clean polished shoes conveys a clean, tidy person. Later, when seated, imagine having the interviewer looking at your worn heels with a nice hole in the sole. Check and polish or buy a new pair of shoes.

For a robust, confident, first impression, plan then execute every detail. Most of the planning is common sense. But it takes serious practice to look and act naturally professional.

By implementing a first-class first impression you open your job interview with an upper hand. Note that everything you have said up to this point, a hello aside, was nonverbal!

The instant you shake hands and exchange pleasantries with the interviewer you are moving into Step 2 of your job interview process. Be alert! All conversations are a form of questioning.

The Reality of 60-Seconds

Some will argue that this nonverbal phase of a first impression is too short, that there is more to a first impression.

Perhaps.

But the reality is that by the time you touch hands mutual opinions have already formed setting the basis and tone for the next several minutes if not for the entire interview. And don’t talk to me about “fair”. Look in the mirror and you’ll see human nature staring back at you. Recall that blind date?

Now you understand why first impressions are critical and why you must make very effort to break the ice in your favor. No second chance.

With Step 1 behind you, continue with Step 2, “Discover 6 Unusual Tips to Help You Handle Your Job Interview Questions”. This article offers insights into answering interview questions.

About the Author:

Charles Ethos is an experienced motivational educator, consultant, and author. For more eye-opening articles with tips on fine-tuning your job interviewing techniques visit http://www.eyeopeninginterviewtips.com

For other job interview technique tips visit http://www.bls.gov/OCO/