What you don't know CAN hurt you in today's job market! - Part I

Having been in the staffing business for 23 years I wish to lend some honest guidance on tips and suggestions for a seamless job search. Some of you may not be recent graduates or new to the job market but let’s be honest; we can always use a refresher course on interviewing tips. Or, perhaps you have a friend or family member that requires some assistance. I wish to offer some candid suggestions to save you from common pitfalls in the interviewing and job search process. My goal is to be refreshing and provide you with some valuable tidbits that perhaps you haven’t read or heard 1,000 times before.

If you’ve just graduated, are new to the market or are re-entering the workforce, you’ve most likely been wearing flip flops and sweat pants for the past four years; so let’s discuss dress attire. Casual attire is still unacceptable in the “real” business world, especially when interviewing. If you want a shot at the top jobs then you had better be more prepared and better dressed than your competition. Sure, some firms do allow casual attire. But leave the flip flops at home until after you’ve been hired. Remember if you want to get ahead and be taken seriously by your colleagues and peers, corporate dress attire sends a very powerful statement and message about who you are and how you wish to be perceived = Serious – Smart – Sharp.

What exactly is corporate attire? Buy yourself a good suit plus some nice accessories to mix it up. Men should buy a few ties in case of multiple interviews at the same firm, and have at least two dress shirts in case you get called back quickly for a second interview and haven’t stopped at the cleaners. I recommend a few different shirts for the ladies for the same purpose plus accessories. There is no need to break the bank – you can find a nice suit for a reasonable price. Stay away from anything that is trendy or will go out of style quickly. A classic style suit should last you for many years to come.

Now for some straight talk. Items that could potentially lose you a corporate job offer: visible tattoos, nose rings, multiple pierced ears, earrings in men, pierced tongues, multiple colored hair, open toe sandals, tall platform shoes, long decorative nails, chipped nail polish, halter tops, and mini-skirts – Whew, I think that sums it up. All of these items are unacceptable for the serious, career-minded individual. Self expression is great, but projecting a professional image is essential in the job interviewing stage Once you are hired at a company and have the opportunity to meet fellow colleagues you can adjust your style accordingly. But pause for a moment and ask this question: “how many CEO’s, Presidents or high level executives do you see with any of the above?”

Keep your resume short, professional and always include the following: your email address, cell and home phone number. If you have an unprofessional email address or an unprofessional voicemail message – now would be the time to get rid of it. Many an interview has been cancelled because of this! Write an objective on your resume that is short and concise, but doesn’t box you into just one area. If you want a marketing position, write an objective that shows you want to enter into business with a few of your strengths included pointing to marketing. List all pertinent job information including summer jobs, part-time jobs, internships, and all school achievements including your GPA if over 3.0. Include any sports achievements, leadership positions and other achievements that would distinguish you from your competitors. List a few key interests that reveal insights into your personality. For example, a passion for chess shows strategic thinking, sports participation demonstrates competitiveness, etc.

Now let’s talk about manners as they matter quite a bit when interviewing and they seem to be scarce these days. At all costs never be late to an interview as it will leave a very bad impression in the interviewer’s eyes. However, if an emergency occurs call and apprise the interviewer of your emergency immediately. You should only bring two things with you to an interview: a leather portfolio with a paper pad and 5 copies of your resume. Leave everything else in the car including your cell phone. Lately candidates have been coming in with Starbuck’s Lattes, big overstuffed carry bags, and cell phones. This is completely unacceptable! While you are waiting for your interview be aware and attentive - don’t read or get distracted. Observe the environment that you are in and see if you can find anything that may prove to be useful during the interview. When someone comes out to greet you, get up and offer a firm handshake and your name. Always get up when someone enters a room – man or woman. If offered anything during the interview, politely decline. Your focus is the interview not beverages or food – they can distract and cause embarrassing circumstances! Never smoke before an interview (including during the car ride to the interview) chew gum or enter an interview with candy, mints or food.

Make sure that your resume is error free and grammatically correct. If you use “spell check” only, you could find that errors are not always picked up. Show your resume to your parents or a few select acquaintances and ask them to look for spelling or grammatical mistakes. Do not ask them to critique or rewrite your resume. Everyone will have a suggestion or opinion that will lend confusion and become a time waster. The best people you can ask to review your resume are recruiters, as we see thousands of resumes in any given month and know what the clients look for!

Stay tuned for the second portion of this article which will include: preparing for the interview, interviewing questions and pitfalls, and after the interview.

Best of luck!

Leslie McIntyre-Tavella
Founder of The McIntyre Group