Interviewing For Your Dream Job

Interviews – the place where your palms are sweaty, your heart races and at some point, you leave with a thought about how you will spend the money you will earn when you get the job.  Being nervous during an interview is common for the interviewee and usually, for the interviewer too.  Smiling, confidence and a good presentation of your competencies are key.

Here are 5 tips to make sure you have a good shot (no promises):

  1. Be on time.  On time = 15 minutes early and not a minute more.  It is polite to be early, but not so early that your interviewer has to adjust their schedule to accommodate your presence.  If you arrive more than 15 minutes early, sit in the foyer or in your car.
  2. Dress appropriately.  Appropriate for a business meeting because that is what an interview is.  Sportswear and attire that you would wear to a party should be left in your closet.
  3. Know your resume.  Good practice – to hand your interviewer a copy of your résumé.  Poor practice – to refer to your résumé when asked questions about your work history because you cannot remember.
  4. Do your research.  Before attending an interview with a company, make sure you have researched them and understand their mission statement, at the very least.  It is very disappointing to an interviewer if they find out you don’t know who they are and a sure way to lose the opportunity.
  5. Thank your interviewer.  Once your interview is complete, be sure to thank the person that interviewed you for considering your application AND send a brief thank you email to this effect.

What Is Business Casual?

You’ve made it! You crafted your job-winning résumé, successfully passed all the hurdles involved in the recruitment process and now your first day is quickly approaching this Monday. You are already envisioning the new job site and the work that comes with it. A smile rises on your face, you have succeeded. So, what’s next on the list?

There is one aspect of your job you failed to envision: the dreaded first day outfit.

Your new company operates on a business casual dress code but you’re stuck between business and casual. You wonder how it is possible to dress for a business…casually. Business casual wear is less formal than the suit and tie but more professional than the blue jeans you wear on casual Friday.

While there are many options, we recommend a nice blouse without overbearing patterns or a plain button up paired with khaki pants for the ladies. Women can also add a cardigan or blazer to complete the look with an extra layer of professionalism.

Men, it is impossible to go wrong with a button up or a professional sweater paired with slacks. You can even dress your outfit up with a blazer or sports coat!

Some examples of unacceptable clothing choices would be strapless shirts, sweatpants and items with discriminatory or offensive language or pictures. While footwear for both genders is flexible, we also suggest to avoid wearing sneakers, flip-flops and overly bright or distracting socks or shoes.

Although these are the typical business-wear practices, always check to see if your company has a dress code policy which can give you more insight on what is and is not acceptable at the workplace.

What are your tips for business casual wear?