Interviewing for the job: Making Your Image and Appearance Work for You
Preparing for an interview includes carefully planning the way you would dress, groom and present yourself. Even the most qualified candidate can lose a job offer solely on image. MedZilla asks an image expert about dress, grooming and body language guidelines. Using these will help candidates not only make a better presentation but also feel better and more confident for the interview.
For Immediate Release
Interviewing for the job: Making Your Image and
Appearance Work for You
Marysville, WA - January 23, 2004— Image isn’t
everything in the interview, but it’s key to your success in landing a job.
“We often talk about how important it is to be prepared for the
interview by having done your homework about the company and the job. We always
focus on the importance of being able to answer all types of interview
questions, including behaviorally based questions, which catch many unknowing
job seekers off guard. But despite all the preparation and skill you might bring
to the table when interviewing, if your dress is inappropriate, your nails are
unkempt, or your body language sends a negative message, your chances of landing
a good job are slim to none,” says Michele Groutage, Director of Marketing at
MedZilla.com, a leading Internet recruitment and professional community that
targets jobseekers and HR professionals in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals,
healthcare and science.
Experts say there are clear “guidelines” to
follow when it comes to image during the interview and those that cross the
imaginary “edges” of these guidelines will often find themselves with rejection
letters.
Judith Rasband, director of the Conselle Institute of Image
Management, says that image—the way you dress, groom yourself and your body
language—sends an important message about who you are. Not only that, says the
author of several books including the Image Management Quick Reference Guide for
Professionals, but your image also affects the way you feel and perform during
the interview. Rasband has consulted with Lawrence Livermore Laboratories,
Kmart, Target, IBM and other well-known corporations about image.
Your
dress
Dress includes anything you do to physically alter your image. It
includes not only clothing but also accessories—even body piercing and
tattoos.
Rasband says that one should dress traditionally, rather than
too conservatively, for the interview. For men, this might mean a jacketed
outfit—not necessarily a suit and tie. Suit and tie is appropriate for some more
conservative industries, such as banking; however, even then, Rasband tells men
and women to avoid wearing black (which is ultra conservative and might
intimidate). Rather, navy, grey or brown is good. Definitely, men, don’t wear
powder blues or pinks and avoid light suits unless you’re in tropical climates.
Men’s jacketed outfits should include at least one collar—on the shirt, jacket
or both, she says. “Why? The collar lifts the attention up to the face, frames
the face and communicates authority, capability, credibility…,” she
says.
She encourages women to wear a jacket-skirt combination or jacketed
dress. High quality “slacks” is OK, too. The most authoritative and sometimes
intimidating color, again, is black. For women, navy, brown, burgundy, hunter
and teal are good colors. “We’re not going to do fuchsia, or pink, because it
communicates ‘froufrou,’” according to Rasband.
The same goes for
accessories as for clothes: nothing extremely formal and nothing “novelty.” Men,
stay away from ties bearing faces, cartoon characters, numbers—anything that
might draw the interviewer’s eyes from your face. Rather choose a tie that
complements or brings out your eye color. Make sure your tie is in good shape,
with no pulled threads or wrinkles. Cufflinks or French cuffs are more for
formal business. Belts are good and shoes should be polished, clean and in good
repair.
Regardless of your gender, visible tattoos or body piercings
(other than traditional earrings in women) are considered negative body images
for interviewing.
Women ought to lose the “chandelier,” or dangly
earrings; they wiggle and distract attention. In addition, don’t go overboard on
the jewelry by wearing a ring on every finger or dozens of bracelets on your
arms. Stockings (nude or beige) are important, Rasband says. Knee high,
stockings are OK under slacks and long skirts, as long as the edge is not
visible.
The shoes that women wear during the interview generally should
be closed heel and toe. Shoes should coordinate with the color of the hem of a
skirt or pants, she says. Use shoulder pads only as a fitting tool (not a
fashion trend) to fill out shoulders and make them more proportionate or
balanced with the rest of the body.
Your nails, hair,
etc.
Grooming is a big part of your image. Your hair should be neatly
styled and not distracting. Nails must be neatly shaped and clean in men and
women, and women’s nail polish ought to be subtle. Don’t go overboard with the
perfume or cologne.
Wash and scrub your face to make sure there is no
loose skin and wipe any dandruff from your shoulders.
Women’s makeup,
according to Rasband, should look natural. Avoid trendy eye shadow colors, like
light blue, or too much rouge, she says.
You’re fidgeting.
Stop!
Body language communicates your stress level, your level of control
and confidence. Rasband says you should be aware so that you stand and sit tall.
“Walk in the door, pause and look over surroundings get your bearings and stride
comfortably into the interview,” she says.
Avoid crossing your arms or
fidgeting. Don’t clench your fists or make large, flamboyant gestures. Speak
with a smile. Be engaged in the conversation with your eyes on the interviewer
and talk about yourself only if what you’re going to say has some benefit to the
organization. If you talk, keep your answers brief.
“Lean back in your
chair periodically and when they ask something that appears important lean
forward with all the attention on what they’re saying. Use your body to
communicate comfort, approval, cooperation,” she says.
Like everything
else, this takes practice and research
“Candidates often brush off image
as the ‘easy’ part. It’s not. Often, people don’t even realize it when they're
fidgeting. Recruiters commonly tell candidates to practice in front of a mirror,
or a video camera or a friend, who looks for distracting things and is willing
to point them out,” says Frank Heasley, PhD, President and CEO of MedZilla. “We
also recommend that candidates do research into the culture of the organization.
Not every scientist or biotech researcher wears a suit to work. We recommend
that candidates go to the interview dressed one level above the average level
where they intend to work.”
About MedZilla.com
Established in
mid 1994, MedZilla is the original web site to serve career and hiring needs for
professionals and employers in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medicine, science
and healthcare. MedZilla databases contain about 10,000 open positions, 13,000
resumes from candidates actively seeking new positions and 50,000 archived
resumes.
Medzilla® is a Registered Trademark owned by Medzilla Inc.
Copyright ©2004, MedZilla, Inc. Permission is granted to reproduce and
distribute this text in its entirety, and if electronically, with a link to the
URL www.medzilla.com. For permission to quote from or reproduce
any portion of this message, please contact Michele Groutage, Director of
Marketing and Development, MedZilla, Inc. Email: e-mail protected from spam
bots.
Press Inquiries:
Contact: Michele Groutage
Company: MedZilla,
Inc.
Title: Director of Marketing & Development
Phone:
360-657-5681
Email: e-mail protected from spam bots
URL: http://www.medzilla.com
# # #
Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/1/prweb100206.htm