Brush up on your interview etiquette

The job market will always be abuzz. You will receive offer letters and you will have to undergo interviews that could make or mar you. Interviews are events wherein your awareness and homework get together with opportunity; and when that happens, Lady Luck smiles on you.

Wouldn’t you like Lady Luck to smile on you? If yes, you need to brush up your interview etiquette – something that should function like a navigation system so that you go on the correct course and engage yourself in correct activities.

Here are some areas where people err and plummet in an interview:

·   Punctuality:  If you think that being a couple of minutes late makes no difference, you are sadly mistaken. You must expect that you will get held up and may have to seek help to reach the interview venue. Remember that time can be quantified in terms of money and that to keep someone waiting is wrong. Your unpunctuality will make the interviewer believe that you do no planning for unforeseen occurrences and that you will be perennially late at arriving at work.

·   Mobile phones:  All telephones ring at the wrong time. When you go for an interview, keep your mobile phone on the switch off mode. You have a very short period of time to impress the interviewer and any interruptions can be very expensive. The interviewer can get distracted, besides taking the buzz as rudeness and being forced to believe that the job is not being accorded due importance by you.

· Handshake:  Your handshake simply cannot be wilted; it portrays an image of being overawed. Handshaking is an art and you need to be perfect at it. Your right hand should be extended straight with the thumb erect and fingers out joint. The shake per se should not be soft, but you should ensure that you do not squeeze too hard. A maximum of two or three pumps are adequate. A point to note is that the offer of the handshake should come from the interviewer.   

·   Conversation:  It is a common phenomenon for nervous people to rush through their spoken words. You should guard against this tendency. The means to being a good talker is to possess the ability to lend ears and make kind inquiries. If you have to do this, you must prepare yourself in advance.

·  Posture:  It is a known fact that people who sit and stand erect transmit positive signals about their personality. You should remember this point and ensure that you do not have a drooping posture.

·   Familiarity: You cannot presume that your interviewer is your friend, his affable approach notwithstanding. You must uphold a professional distance and refrain from getting excessively personal. As a matter of practice, snooping questions should not be asked. 

·  Body language:  Body language is a very powerful tool. We had body language before we had speech, and apparently, 80% of what you understand in a conversation is read through the body, not the words. Therefore you need to guard against fidgeting, foot tapping, limb movement and unwarranted gesturing.

·  Exuberance:  If you intend to convey your seriousness, you cannot afford to have a staid look on your face. Your face should radiate happiness and confidence; and this is best portrayed by a smile. Remember that your clothes may not be noticed, but your smile will. And a smile will even confuse an approaching frown.

·  Expectations:  You should make it known to the employer your suitability for the post you are being interviewed for. Anything to do with your past employment has no relevance; look at what is being offered to you and either accept it or forego it.

·   Reciprocation:  After an interview is over, people tend to forget about it and the interviewer. You will be displaying a high sense of professionalism if send a note of thanks to the interviewer. Doing so will also portray a positive image. The opportunity should also be seen as one to highlight your eagerness and also show up any aspect that you missed out during the interview.

You may or may not get through the interview. If you fail, it does not mean that you are a failure; it means that you have not succeeded yet. Your good luck will happen when your preparedness will meet an opportunity. Take a cue from what transpired and use it to succeed the next time. After all, failures are stepping stones to success.