Several silly questions about interviews

yumyums

Hello! Got a few small questions about interviews and was hoping some more experienced people would be able to help.

Do you leave your suit jacket on throughout the interview?

Also, I tend to get cold hands when I'm nervous. Don't want to offer a cold handshake to the interviewer. Should I rub them together or something to warm them up?

Is it normal practice to take notes during an interview? I don't feel that I will need to. Will this be frowned upon?

If the interviewer says "Hi I'm Mark" I plan to say "Hi Mark, nice to meet you", if he says "Hi I'm Mark Jones" then should I say "Hi Mr Jones..." until he says "please call me Mark"?

I know these are all small things but I really want to put the best impression of myself across. Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.

I have done a lot of research on the company, competency questions etc so feel well prepared in these areas. It's just the etiquette I'm worrying about at the moment.

Many thanks

relic

Leave the suit jacket on.

Cold hands - i've no idea, it would probably be better if you didn't rub them together during the interview.

I wouldn't plan a response depending on what you think the other person is going to say, just use the social skills you have learned and it will be fine.

chocsessential

yumyums wrote: »

Hello! Got a few small questions about interviews and was hoping some more experienced people would be able to help.

Do you leave your suit jacket on throughout the interview?

Also, I tend to get cold hands when I'm nervous. Don't want to offer a cold handshake to the interviewer. Should I rub them together or something to warm them up?

Your questions are not silly, they show you are taking the interview seriously.
Is it normal practice to take notes during an interview? I don't feel that I will need to. Will this be frowned upon?

If the interviewer says "Hi I'm Mark" I plan to say "Hi Mark, nice to meet you", if he says "Hi I'm Mark Jones" then should I say "Hi Mr Jones..." until he says "please call me Mark"?

I know these are all small things but I really want to put the best impression of myself across. Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.

I have done a lot of research on the company, competency questions etc so feel well prepared in these areas. It's just the etiquette I'm worrying about at the moment.

Many thanks

Personally I would keep my jacket on, taking it off may give the impression you already feel at home and are taking it for granted you will be offered the job. If the interviewer suggests you take it off then go ahead.

The interviewer will be used to hot and cold handshakes and will think nothing of it, so don't worry about warming up.

I would not address the interviewer by name, I would just say hello and confirm my own name.

It is great that you have done your research. You can ask a question based on what you have learnt about the company. The interviewer will love the fact that you are taking such an interest.

I think you'll do fine. Good luck.

You can write a couple of bits and pieces down but don't write loads of paragraphs. Your attention needs to be on the interviewer.

SueC_2

If you're being interviewed in a un-airconditioned room, with the sun beaming through the window, and leaving your jacket on means that you are dripping with sweat and in danger of passing out from heat exhaustion, don't feel that etiquette insists you do nothing. Simply say "Sorry, I hope you don't mind if I take my jacket off, it's rather warm in here". I cannot believe any right-minded interviewer is going to take offence!

GarretNew

I always have cold and wet hands during the interview. And it is became a big problem for me. Use a paper napkins))

yumyums

relic wrote: »

Cold hands - i've no idea, it would probably be better if you didn't rub them together during the interview.

Heh - I wasn't planning on rubbing them together during the interview - that would make me look like some sort of scheming psycho! I meant doing it discreetly before meeting the interviewer. But I guess you're right chocsessential. I won't be the first person to ever give a cold handshake I'm sure.

Thanks all for helping reduce my concerns. I'm a bit of a worrier if you couldn't tell!

KiKi

yumyums wrote: »

Do you leave your suit jacket on throughout the interview?

Depends if it's hot or cold - I usually take mine off. Don't be afraid to take your jacket off during the interview if it warms up, either. No-one's going to refuse you a job because you said "excuse me" and took your jacket off!

Also, I tend to get cold hands when I'm nervous. Don't want to offer a cold handshake to the interviewer. Should I rub them together or something to warm them up?

Before you go in, yes, that's a good idea. At the end, no.

Is it normal practice to take notes during an interview? I don't feel that I will need to. Will this be frowned upon?

No, it's not normal - I took a few notes last time at the end but that was specific to the role, things I needed to know for the next interview stage. It won't be frowned upon at all whether you do or don't.

If the interviewer says "Hi I'm Mark" I plan to say "Hi Mark, nice to meet you", if he says "Hi I'm Mark Jones" then should I say "Hi Mr Jones..." until he says "please call me Mark"?

First names unless s/he doesn't tell you her/his name.


HTH
KiKi

claire16c

First of all, just calm down! Ive interviewed lots of people, and I honestly dont want them to feel nervous or have to put on a sort of act or worry about things like this. I literally just want to find out how good they would be for the job!

Yes I want them to be professional but when I offer or dont offer someone a job, it has nothing to do with whether they took their jacket off or not

If its hot like SueC said, take it off dont end up fainting or somthing!

So do what you like with your jacket depending on the temperature of the room.

I would find it a bit strange if someone took notes, only because why would they take notes of what they were saying?? Or, I might be suspicious they had a friend coming to the same interview and were going to tell them the questions or something. I cant see why youd need notes unless there was some kind of special situation. And it would slow the interview down if you were writing all the time, that would annoy me.

if they say ' Hi Im Mark,' then just reply with 'Hi, Im x'. Easy!

SueC_2

claire16c wrote: »

then just reply with 'Hi, Im x'. Easy!

Not to be confused with:

"Hi, I'm Easy".

That would be bad.

DCFC79

yumyums wrote: »

Hello! Got a few small questions about interviews and was hoping some more experienced people would be able to help.

Do you leave your suit jacket on throughout the interview?

i leave it on, they sometimes say you can remove your jacket or if your hot then maybe you could ask if its ok to remove your jacket

Also, I tend to get cold hands when I'm nervous. Don't want to offer a cold handshake to the interviewer. Should I rub them together or something to warm them up?

No idea, ive not experienced it.

Is it normal practice to take notes during an interview? I don't feel that I will need to. Will this be frowned upon?

I used to take notes but i dont anymore, its just something extra in your pockets for you to drop/lose

If the interviewer says "Hi I'm Mark" I plan to say "Hi Mark, nice to meet you", if he says "Hi I'm Mark Jones" then should I say "Hi Mr Jones..." until he says "please call me Mark"?

Yes i do the latter if he says to call him by his first name then do so.

I know these are all small things but I really want to put the best impression of myself across. Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.

I have done a lot of research on the company, competency questions etc so feel well prepared in these areas. It's just the etiquette I'm worrying about at the moment.

Many thanks

Just try and remember how you would want an interviewee to come across if you were interviewing them. Remember eye contact, speak clearly and dont leave anything out.

Good luck

Errata

yumyums wrote: »

Hello! Got a few small questions about interviews and was hoping some more experienced people would be able to help.

Do you leave your suit jacket on throughout the interview?
Leavbe it on, it's an interview not a party.

Also, I tend to get cold hands when I'm nervous. Don't want to offer a cold handshake to the interviewer. Should I rub them together or something to warm them up?
Will there be somewhere where you can rub your hands together to warm them up? Doubtful - don't worry about it.

Is it normal practice to take notes during an interview? I don't feel that I will need to. Will this be frowned upon?
Only ever come across one note-taking interviewee, and that wasn't the oddest thing about them.

If the interviewer says "Hi I'm Mark" I plan to say "Hi Mark, nice to meet you", if he says "Hi I'm Mark Jones" then should I say "Hi Mr Jones..." until he says "please call me Mark"?
your response should be 'hello - Fred Bloggs' (so he knows he's got the right candidate in front of him and not someone who's managed to jump the queue or has walked into the wrong room. Never say Hi, it's an interview not a party and I take it you're not an Amercan. If the interviewer invites you to call them by their first name, say thank you to acknowledge and don't call them anything.

I know these are all small things but I really want to put the best impression of myself across. Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.

I have done a lot of research on the company, competency questions etc so feel well prepared in these areas. It's just the etiquette I'm worrying about at the moment.

Many thanks

HTH - eat something before an interview so the questions and answers aren't drowned out by a noisy rumbling tum.