By Farhan Shah
First
impressions are incredibly important, more so in job interviews. As you walk into the
room, your interviewer (orinterviewers) is
already forming pre-conceived notions about you based on your appearance, even
before the obligatory handshake.
According to a study done by
Princeton psychologists, people form first impressions about you
almost immediately in the blink of an eye, about a tenth of a second to be
exact, and longer exposures do not necessarily equate to a different or better
impression.
Before your mouth has
opened, your interviewer has already sized you up, so make sure your
interviewer has not mentally removed you from the shortlist even before you
present your case.
According to a recent
survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 73% of employers would not hire slovenly, smelly or dirty
employees so if you come in to the office smelling and looking like
something the cat brought it, you can forget about a job offer.
There are 3
parts to your appearance.
• Clothes
• Grooming
• Smell
Clothes
According to
international business dress expert Barbara Pachter in the book “Job Interview
for Dummies”, you have to “send a message through your clothing and
be aware of the details.”
This means that the clothes you wear send a signal, and subsequently a
message, to your interviewer. An outfit that is one size too big looks
unprofessional and tells your interviewer that you cannot be bothered to put in
effort in the way you look, which might also translate to your future job
performance.
Shoes are also an
important part of your outfit. A well-put-together outfit can go to waste if
your shoes are grubby or dirty. Your interviewer will notice your shoes, so
make sure the pair that you have on are clean, polished, and in good condition.
For men, another
clothing faux pas you can commit are ankle socks. Although these are highly
fashionable, they do not belong in the interview room. Nothing turns off an
interviewer more than seeing hairy, exposed flesh when you sit down and expose
your ankles. It tells the interviewer that you cannot differentiate between the
boardroom and the beach.
For women,
gratuitous shows of flesh should be avoided like the plague. “Sexy isn’t a
corporate look. Low-cut tops that expose cleavage draw attention to this body
part and are not appropriate in the office,” Joyce Kennedy writes in Job Interview
for Dummies.
Grooming
After your clothes
are taken care of, it is time to groom yourself. Focus on the parts that will
be visible to the interviewer, which includes your facial hair and nails.
No interviewer likes
to see visible nose hair protruding out of your nostrils. It becomes an
unpleasant distraction and will result in your interviewer thinking about how
best to trim your hair instead of listening to you expound your career
achievements.
As for your nails,
make sure digits are trimmed and buffed. Unsightly talons indicate to your
interviewers that you are oblivious to details and might be prone to careless
mistakes in your work. For the ladies who put on nail polish, ensure that your
nail polish is not chipped because it sends the same signals, that of not
noticing details, to your interviewers.
In the case of
stubble, it is largely dependent on the position that you are applying for. If
you are applying for a creative position, the interviewer might not pay any
heed to your 5 o’clock shadow. However, if you are attempting to score a
corporate job, it’s best to be clean-shaven.
Smell
Now that you have
picked out the perfect outfit and made sure your hair and nails are in tip-top
condition, don’t forget the olfactory factor. It’s not just about what the
interviewer sees but what the interviewer smells as well. Unfortunately, in
sunny Singapore, being located so close to the equator results in excessive
sweating for some, and with it a malodorous side-effect.
If taking an
air-conditioned taxi is not an option for you, accommodate
some time (about 10 – 15 minutes) in your schedule to clean up in the washroom before
you enter the interview room. Stow deodorant and cologne in your bag as well so
that any unsavoury smells are taken care of.
Ensure that your
mouth is not reminiscent of dead fish. Gargle mouthwash and drink lots of plain
water before you head out. That will take care of any last vestiges of
halitosis. Nothing turns off an interviewer more than being assaulted in the
nostrils by any unpleasant odour. They will start to think about how they will
have to work in close proximity with you every day, for as long as you stay
with the company, which might not be very appealing.
The JobsCentral
Group, a CareerBuilder company, is the owner of JobsCentral.com.sg, one of
Singapore's largest job and learning portals. Get a free career personality
test and more career- and education-related articles at JobsCentral and JobsCentral Community.
Alternatively, Like us on Facebook or
Follow us on Twitter for
more career-centric content!
