Ask a professional athlete how they prepare for a big game, and they’ll tell you they begin several days before the event. Athletes start to get ready days in advance because they want to be relaxed and it reduces the possibility of a last-minute crisis.
The night before I conduct an important training session, I always organize my material, test my video equipment, and weather permitting, pack my car. When I go to bed, it’s still difficult to fall asleep because I’m nervous, but at least I know everything is ready to go. I don’t have to rush around in the morning.
Let me state the obvious: Job interviews are stressful. The last thing you need the morning of an important interview is to run around the house looking for your favorite shoes or making extra copies of your resume. Here are some suggestions to help you relax and prepare in advance for your next interview:
• Days in advance decide what documentation may be helpful. Are extra copies of your resume needed? Bring a list of references. Did you search the Internet to learn as much as you can about the company? Is there someone you can contact who can give you helpful information about the company? If you know the name of the interviewers, can you find them on Facebook or LinkedIn? Would it be helpful to bring work samples? Your goal is to be better prepared than your competition.
• I make this suggestion frequently: Have you practiced answers to the most obvious questions you will be asked in the interview? A couple of examples:
What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What is the most difficult problem you ever solved? You get the idea. Please, surf the Internet for sample questions and practice. Practice will give you confidence, and you’ll be more at ease in the real job interview.
• Appearance matters, it really does. Looking good is not the secret to getting hired but not paying attention to your appearance can definitely work against you. I appreciate the cliché “don’t judge a book by its cover,” but I’m sorry, people do make judgments based on many factors that are not fair or objective.
Dress appropriately based on the nature of the job and the culture within the business. What’s acceptable in a high-tech startup company may be very different than what is expected in a company that has extensive contact with the general public. My goal is to acknowledge that these expectations do affect hiring decisions. Over a cup of coffee we may share the opinion that people shouldn’t make judgments based on appearance, but at the end of the day, these are perceptions and obstacles that affect hiring decisions.
A friend of mine was recently denied a promotion and his boss mentioned his appearance. It was a high-level position, and even in 2016 the majority of executives are still wearing gray suits and ties. It may be boring and it may sound unreasonable, but it’s the expectation of that culture. In case you’re curious, he still refuses to wear a suit, but he has compromised and he now wears a tie to work.
Did I mention tattoos? This is a very personal decision, but I’m suggesting you cover up any tattoos that could be interpreted in a negative way. I realize tattoos are becoming more widely accepted, but there still are circumstances in which they are not well received. Enough said — it’s your choice.
I recently listened to an interview of a very successful professional athlete and she said that the biggest advantage of preparing in advance and practicing is the positive effect it has on her confidence. Projecting a positive, confident attitude in a job interview is extremely important and may be the one advantage that gets you the job. This is not the time to fly off the seat of your pants. Be prepared, be confident, and you can be No. 1.
Bill Kaminski is president of Stone Associates Training. He is an HR consultant with 35 years of experience in the employment field, teaching managers the art of hiring great employees. Bill is also an adjunct instructor at Keuka College. You can contact Bill with questions, suggestions or comments at www.bill@stoneassociatestraining.com.
