Before you open your mouth, your physical
presentation -- dress, grooming, posture, facial
expression, eye contact, handshake -- will create
an impact. In fact, researchers say physical
presentation is responsible for 55 percent of the
impact we create. Voice -- tone, speed and pitch
-- accounts for another 38 percent of our impact.
The actual words we speak are responsible for
only seven percent of the impression we make.
Researchers also tell us that the decision to
reject an applicant is made within the first
three minutes. Remember: you don't get a second
chance to create a good first impression.
How You Dress
As part of your research, pay attention to how
people in the organization dress and look,
particularly those who will be interviewing you
and those in the positions you're applying for.
Each organization has images which communicate
status and power. For men, slacks and a
co-ordinated sport jacket with shirt and tie may
be very appropriate in one organization. The same
look could be inappropriate in a more formal,
image-conscious company like IBM well known for
its three-piece navy blue suit, white shirt, and
tie-with-some-red-in-it look. Women in
professional environments might be governed by
Dr. Natasha Josefowitz's "Dress for
Success" poem:
Nothing too short.
Nothing too bright.
Nothing too low.
And nothing too tight.
In his 1973 book, Dress For Success, John T.
Molloy advocated that women wear business suits
to emulate men in positions of power. Also, the
tailored suit says: "I'm here to work, not
to attract or distract men."
Your choice of style, colour, and fabric can have
an effect on how you are assessed for
suitability. Get some input from trusted friends,
work colleagues or mentors. Use discretion with
perfume, jewellery, makeup, shoes and other
accessories. Solid colours tend to be better than
busy, bold prints for a job interview. Be
conservative and professional. John Molloy still
advocates that women wear their hair short and
neat or pulled back off the face and neck for a
more business-like look.
Your Body Talks
It's not enough to have the right look. The
professional image you've engineered may be
undone by the way you walk, stand or sit. Your
non-verbal communications speak louder than your
words.
As part of your preparation, start paying
attention to people around you and on TV. Notice
how you respond to body language and choose the
behaviours you want to incorporate into your
image.
| 1. |
Keep head,
shoulders and back erect. Walk with a
sense of purpose. Communicate energy in
your gait. |
| 2. |
Show
friendliness, interest, and confidence in
your facial expression. This is best done
with a smile and direct eye contact. Lack
of eye contact in our culture is often
interpreted as lack of honesty, shyness,
or lack of confidence. Anticipate how
your interviewer might interpret your
mannerisms and ensure that your body is
saying what you want it to |
| 3. |
Learn how to
shake hands if this skill isn't already a
part of your social behaviour. Take the
initiative and extend your hand without
waiting for the interviewer to offer
his/hers. It shows confidence. There is a
bonding and breaking down of barriers
that occurs when we touch physically with
a professional, friendly handshake. |
| 4. |
In the interview,
sit erect and be comfortable, feet flat
on the floor, hands/arms on your lap or
on the arms of your chair. This is an
open position. It says that you're
relaxed, confident and comfortable. Hands
or arms crossed over the chest or stomach
are often interpreted as defensiveness,
hostility, disagreement, or being closed. |
| 5. |
Leaning slightly
forward in an interview shows interest. |
| 6. |
Appropriate hand
and arm gestures can add emphasis and
credibility to your verbal presentation.
But don't overdo your gestures. |
| 7. |
If you have a
tendency to wiggle, fidget, or play with
anything you have in your hands, stay
conscious of that tendency and stop
yourself. Practise this and get feedback
from a friend. |
| 8. |
If you're
positioned too far from or too close to
the interviewer or it's difficult to make
eye contact with the panel, take the
initiative to move your chair. |
Voice
Your voice has the potential to sabotage you. How
you use speech will have a major influence on the
impact you create. Observe what voices you like
as you watch TV, listen to the radio, or interact
with friends, family, and co-workers. What is it
about the tone, the speed and the pitch that's
appealing? Be aware of what qualities or faults
you attribute to people based on what you hear in
their voices.
Some female applicants are rejected because of
whiny, squeaky, little girl voices or for
speaking too quietly. Unless you have a
disability related to your vocal mechanism, you
have the power to change the way you use your
voice in order to be more effective. Get some
feedback from trusted friends or family on how
you sound now and how you can communicate more
effectively.
What You Say
Problems with what you say in an interview are
frequently associated with:
- inadequate
preparation
- lack
of knowledge
- rambling
- trying
to respond the way you think your
interviewer wants you to respond
(unnatural response).
|
Listen to
yourself on a tape recorder. If you feel you need
to improve, practise on tape so you can hear the
progress. The best way to prepare is to
anticipate questions and write down your
responses to them. Next, practise speaking your
responses.
|