You’ve prepared for this moment: the job interview. You’ve done your research, received an interview invitation, and begun preparing answers to possible questions. You know what you will say to sell yourself as a candidate. With all the preparation, you’re ready for your interview. Or are you?

In my 10+ years of experience as an Employment Specialist, I have come to realize that several critical elements can help elevate you in the eyes of an interviewer. And the best part is they are simple to implement!

 

Dress and Appearance

Most people know not to wear pajamas to an interview, but what should you wear? The answer may vary depending on where you’re applying. Here are some tips to help you dress for success:

1. Ask what proper attire is for the interview.

The best time to ask is when you are invited to an interview. You may phrase the question like, “What is the company’s dress code?”

2. Dress one step above the normal dress code.

There are different standards of business attire:

• Casual
• Smart Casual
• Business Casual
• Business Professional

Figure out what the company’s dress code is (either by asking an employee or checking out their social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter). Understand the different business attires and dress one step above what you see. If the company’s dress code is business professional, dress in business professional clothing.
 

3. Avoid dressing in a way that draws attention to you.

A candidate’s clothing is a reflection of how they view the position, so avoid wearing outlandish, immodest, or even sloppy clothing. Make a positive impression by dressing professionally and appropriately. You should also consider your jewelry, hair style, and smell. Even too much of a good thing (like wearing too much perfume or cologne) can have a negative impact. Have a trusted friend, family member, operations supervisor, or development counselor give you an honest evaluation of your appearance.

 

Non-Verbal Communication

Dress and appearance aren’t the only aspects of job interviews that will help you succeed. In fact, I've found that non-verbal communications are just as important to boost your professionalism in an interview:

4. Be on Time

Be respectful of the interviewer’s time. Arrive 10–15 minutes early for in-person interviews, and 1–2 minutes early for virtual interviews.

5. Be Kind

Believe it or not, frontline employees (like receptionists) can have an influence on the interviewer. Plus, it’s always a good idea to make a good impression on someone who may be a future co-worker. Treat everyone with kindness and respect.

6. Use a Confident Tone of Voice

Only 7% of communication are the words we say. Your tone of voice accounts for about 38% of communication. For a successful job interview, use a confident tone that mirrors the tone of your interviewer.

7. Use Appropriate Body Language

Body language counts for the other 55% of communication. That’s right—people believe what they see more than what they hear. Be confident in your body language by showing good posture, making eye contact, and giving positive queues like nodding your head. Watch out for nervous habits like rocking in your chair, shaking your leg, clicking a pen, etc. Amy Cuddy’s Ted Talk titled, “Your body language may shape who you are” will give you some helpful tips on feeling more confident in an interview. At the end of the interview, remember to extend your hand for a handshake. Be careful it’s not too firm or too soft.

 

Practice Interviewing

If you are not feeling quite confident in your interview preparation yet, enlist the help of an employment advisor to do a mock interview. To connect with an employment advisor:

1. Go to employment.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
2. Select “Help for Job Seekers.”
3. Select “Get Personalized Help.”
4. Select “To sign up for free job coaching, click here.”
5. Complete the registration process.

Mock interviews are a great way to practice, make mistakes, and grow! Mock interviews have helped me personally prepare for the real thing without the stress of being perfect. By participating in mock interviews, you can work out all the kinks so you don’t have to overthink in a real interview.

To get even more help perfecting your interview skills, check out our job interview resource page. 

 

About Eric . . .

Eric has been coaching people on the entire job search process for over 10 years. He specializes in helping people find job leads, perfect their applications and résumés, interviewing, and negotiating job offers. Before working as a career coach, Eric worked in Human Resources for several years.