What to wear to an interview!?

petedp

Congrats Bride- have a beer :beer: or two :beer:

Turning_into_scrooge

The_Bride wrote:

Thanks very much Scrooge - I did get the job, yay :T
It'll be my first after a year out of work (travelling ) so I'm dead excited.
So its clear that the suit provided the needed magic!

Great news :T :T :T good luck on your first day :j

Pere_Ubu

When my friend and I graduated from Uni we had no money (nothing has changed). We had a few interviews lined up but didn't have any decent clothes so we went to a High Street shop chose items of clothing i.e. blouse, skirt, jacket, according to where the price label was hanging e.g labels that could be tucked up the sleeve or down the back of a skirt. We would wear them to the interview and then take them back to the shop afterwards for a full refund. I'm not suggesting that any one do this of course just reading the postings reminded me of my student days!!!!

bargainaddict

My Mum always said you can tell alot about someone by the state of their shoes! All the best of luck for the interview. Let us all know the result.

PS. don't forget to iron the new shirt!!!!

MommaCC

Notepad is definately a good move - jot down bullet points

Don't forget to switch mobile off - or at least put it on silent

Take 2 copies of cv to use as a prompt - 2nd copy as a spare incase they ask for it

1st impression does count - create a bad first impression and you will spend the rest of the interview on catch up, good first impressions only need reinforcing, only problem being you don't know what kind of impression you've made

Congrats to the bride

petedp

Well people I didn’t get the job. I’m in two minds about it actually- When I initially read the job description the post sounded great, however in the interview it seemed they had re-jigged the office/role structure. As they went on to tell me about the ‘new’ role I tried to keep a ‘poker’ face so I didn’t show my disappointment/confused state. I did this so I could still give the interview my all (I could always had turned the position down later, if offered).

For the interview I researched the company and specific job role to a fair degree- fail to plan then plan to fail and all that! I prepared relevant and interesting questions and was more than qualified with the desired experience also. Whilst in the interview it seemed as if I perhaps was to ‘prepared’ if there is such a thing?!

I know this may sound a bit egotistical but it isn’t really meant that way- but sometimes in small offices (not for profit) do you think they may shy away from appointing someone who could possibly offer a ‘threat’ to their position in time to come? Just a thought and It would be interesting to read peoples views on this-so if you have any do share them!

helen21_2

Oh pete, after all that preperation and all our good wishes, never mind probably a better job waiting just round the corner, so get off ya bum and go for a walk

Savvy_Sue

petedp wrote:

I know this may sound a bit egotistical but it isn’t really meant that way- but sometimes in small offices (not for profit) do you think they may shy away from appointing someone who could possibly offer a ‘threat’ to their position in time to come? Just a thought and It would be interesting to read peoples views on this-so if you have any do share them!

Well, it is possible, but I think the more charitable way of looking at it would be that they want someone who will fit the job they have right now, and may have felt you were overqualified. It can be difficult in a small office to get it right: you think you have x job to offer, but when you work through a few things you realise it might be better to do y instead, and this can happen between advertising and interviews! That is a shame for the person who wanted the original job which the company has now decided is different. But from the point of view of the small office, stability is key!

I know we've just done something similar at work (even though I'm off sick right now!) We advertised two jobs, but after doing that someone else resigned. So we shortlisted and interviewed for those two original jobs, but after thinking about things decided to restructure the now vacant and one other jobs. One went to someone within the organisation, and we seem to have offered the other to one of the applicants for a different job.

Better luck next time, it does sound as if you are preparing well and working hard.

Didn't add my 5p worth on what to wear earlier, but I'd say that it's worth being remembered. After I interviewed 3 people with 2 colleagues (all female as it happened) and we were ALL wearing black jackets, I went out and bought a bright pinky-red jacket (similar to Virgin trains as I found when I travelled on one not long after!) before I started job-hunting. Now that happens to be an OK colour for me to wear, and I sometimes wore a blue jacket instead, but I made sure that if I wore the black jacket to interview I didn't also wear black trousers! Trust me, people remembered my jacket! And I got two jobs wearing it.

For chaps, I agree generally a suit, although check dress code first, but if you can make sure your tie is not too boring - not novelty, but please not boring - that should help.

Things NOT to be remembered for, in general, are your facial piercings, or ladies your belly button. Even if you'll be OK with it once you start work, I'm sure it goes without saying that a flash of midriff will only get you anywhere with a very few interviewers, and absolutely nowhere with the vast majority! I guess you can't do a lot about facial tattoos in a hurry ... but if you have others, keep 'em out of sight for now!

Good luck all!

researcher

Hi Pete - I'm a great believer that you DO get what you deserve in life, and you obviously deserve better. Yes, people are threatened by someone who might be better at their job than they are - but would you want to spend your days working with them anyhow?

Look at it as a 'dress rehearsal', and when the right job comes along you'll be at peak performance. And if you keep looking it WILL happen.

:grouphug:

petedp

helen21 wrote:

Oh pete, after all that preparation and all our good wishes, never mind probably a better job waiting just round the corner, so get off ya bum and go for a walk

Made me laugh! Thanks!


To Helen21, Savvy_Sue, researcher - I really needed your replies!-so thanks.

Maybe i'm just aiming too low-as i really need to get on the job ladder sharpish. Its tricky to find a happy medium- applying for jobs which are 'ok...ish' or waiting for the jobs you are specifically qualified in to apply for.

This job hunting can be a lonely place…