Best interview etiquette is mainly common sense but you would be surprised by the number of times that people have taken it for granted and overlooked the repercussions.

JOB INTERVIEWS:
 PUT  YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD

Best interview etiquette is mainly common sense but you would be surprised by the number of times that people have taken it for granted and overlooked the repercussions. In reality, a job interview begins once you get notice of the interview and your interview preparation must begin immediately.

The Dress Code for an interview

Many offices these days are business casual. Therefore, you feel that it is ok to arrive to the job interview also dressed casually. It really is not. The interviewer wants to know that you are serious about getting this job. The first impression will be lasting. Put on your suit, polish your shoes and ensure that you are well groomed.

Punctuality and Interviews

Leave yourself loads of time to get to the job interview. I know it sounds obvious but some things are always going to be out of your control. For example, the bus timetable you have may be out of date and delays you in getting to the interview. As far as the interviewer is concerned, you did not make the effort to get there on time. There is no point blaming the bus. Always arrive fifteen to twenty minutes early.

The interview handshake

Look the interviewer straight in the eye and have a firm handshake. Wait for the interviewer to offer you a seat. If he offers you a drink of water, do not be shy to take it. 

Questions for the interviewer

Ensure that you have questions for the interviewer. This portion of job interview etiquette is always overlooked. The interviewer will expect you to have some questions for him or her on both the role and the company. Even if this is your tenth job interview with the same company, make sure you have a couple of questions ready - else it is deemed that you are not really interested.

Job interview etiquette is often and should never be overlooked. Interviewers demand a certain respect and you should not put your chances of winning your dream job at risk by not following some simple interview etiquette rules.

1.     Arrive about 10 to 15 minutes early, not before. And definitely not after the scheduled time!

2.     Do refer to the interviewer by name

3.     Be alert and interested from beginning to end

4.     Be calm and confident but never egotistical or aggressive.

5.     Project keen interest in the company and the interviewers; never act disinterested.

6.     Be positive and confident - never get defensive at any question or comment at job interviews.

7.     Maintain eye contact with the interviewer without crossing the boundary into staring.

8.     Speak of your accomplishments with specific examples.

9.     When asking them questions, be sure to ask about aspects other than just money.

10. Don't excuse yourself to go to the bathroom during the interview.

11. Dress accordingly but make sure your clothes don't steal the show. You need to convince the recruiter with your skills.

12. Address the interviewer by name. Make sure you pronounce his name correctly.

13. Always carry a few spare copies  of your CV ... it is being both courteous and efficient!

14. Make sure you go to the bathroom before the interview, not during the interview!

15. Don't ask for refreshments. Make sure you had something to drink and eat before the interview begins.

16. Be alert and interested all the time!

17. Be confident but never cocky!

18. Do not make any negative comments about anything. Don't bad-mouth any former employer.

19. Put your briefcase or other interview paraphernalia on the floor and not on the desk.

20. Take notes on a note pad and not on your laptop.

21. Don't interrupt the interviewer.

22. Make sure your cell phone is switched off.

23. Be polite to everyone, also the receptionist!

24. Pay attention to your body language. Stand and sit up straight, be moderate in using hand gestures.

25. Don't lie because sooner or later you will be caught! If you don't know something say "I don't know..." it's a powerful way to win respect

26. Don't procrastinate in answering questions.

27. Be enthusiastic but don't look desperate.

28. Be prepared. Do your research regarding job, company and interviewer.

29. Ask intelligent and relevant questions that will impress your interviewer.

30. Don't ask the receptionist a introduction of the company you should have previewed your website.

31. Don't smoke, chew gum,  or eat “paan” beforehand.it shows on your breath 

32. Go to the interview alone (let parents, children, spouses, friends etc. wait outside the building if they accompany you).

33. Avoid being touchy in an interview situation.

34. Thank the interviewer for their time and ask what the next steps are, if they didn't already tell you.

35. Send thank-you notes following the interview. Make yourself memorable.

THE RIGHT ETIQUETTE: It doesn’t matter how much self-confidence you have starting a new job in a new workplace is daunting for everybody.

How to Fit into a New Workplace

It doesn’t matter how much self-confidence you have starting a new job in a new workplace is daunting for everybody. Whilst you might begin your first day exuberant and excited about the new challenges ahead, you’re also likely to be feeling nervous, daunted and quite stressed. This is all perfectly natural, however, and it’s important to remember that your new employer, as well as the colleagues you’ll be working with, will not be expecting miracles straight away and that they’ll want to help you settle in as quickly and as smoothly as possible. They’ll have been the ‘new joinee’ too at some time or other, remember. There are, however, some useful steps you can take to make the transition as smooth and as painless as possible.

Clothing

Probably the first thing you’ll want to know before you even start work, if you don’t already know, is what the appropriate dress code is. You don’t want to look as if you’re going to a dinner dance if you turn up and everyone is dressed casually. Yet, neither will you want to turn up in jeans if everyone’s wearing business suits so, in order that you ‘blend in’ on your first day, it’s important to dress appropriately. Don’t just assume that “it’s this type of company so it will probably be OK to wear that”. Even within the same industry, there can be very different accepted dress codes.

Ask Questions

Don’t be afraid to ask questions of both your immediate supervisor, your colleagues and your boss. They can’t expect you to know everything straight away so they’ll be expecting a barrage of questions from you anyway so you shouldn’t feel stupid asking a lot of questions. Remember, companies would rather you asked a hundred questions than blindly try to carry out your duties without really knowing what you’re doing as it can prove very costly both in monetary times and in time lost if you carry on regardless only to find that the errors you’ve made need to all be fixed later so, if you have any doubts about anything, you should just ask.

Learn How the Equipment Works

Whether you have an office job or you work in a manual capacity, you’re bound to come up against some kind of tools or machinery that you’ve never worked with before so find out the equipment you need to use and how it works. It’s often handy to scribble down a few notes or stick Post-It instructions up as learning how new machinery works can sometimes be complex and, if someone has taken a fair amount of time explaining how something works, you should try to grasp the basics straight away so that you don’t have to keep pulling them away from their work to repeat the instructions.

Be Proactive

As a ‘new joinee’ on staff, you’ll probably find that you won’t often be given too much to do over the course of your first few days as your employer will be more interested in helping you settle in initially and to just give you a ‘feel’ of what you’re going to be faced with later. However, if you find that you’ve taken to your new role like a ‘duck to water’, don’t just sit there idly twiddling your thumbs and staring out of the window but be proactive and ask your supervisor or colleagues nearby if you can do anything else for them. They may be glad of the extra help.

Be Friendly

It’s important you don’t overpower your new work colleagues with ‘chit-chat’ during your first few days and don’t get involved in office gossip either – you’re there to work after all. However, that doesn’t mean you should bury your head in paperwork or hide behind your computer screen or machine either. Take your cues from your colleagues and if they are chatting away as they’re working, make sure you join in too. The sooner you get to know your colleagues, the more settled, comfortable and ‘part of the firm’ you’ll feel. Be considerate and respectful too.

Don’t Overdo It!

Remember, you’ve been given this new job on your merits. This might be because of how you came across at interview, the skills you’re bringing with you and other personal qualities and it will probably be a combination of all three. So, whilst it’s important that you’re able to carry out your duties as best you can and as soon as you can, don’t try to over-impress by staying back and working late or taking on too many responsibilities above and beyond your job description too soon as you may find that you’ll be continually played on in the future.

Different people will settle into new jobs at different rates and, if you’ve joined the company alongside other new recruits at the same time, don’t get upset or frustrated if it takes you a little longer to settle in and to grasp new concepts and ways of doing things. Somebody will always be the quickest and somebody will always be the slowest – that’s just life. The key thing to remember is to simply do your best, to ask questions if need be and to be friendly and courteous. As long as you follow these tips, you should find that, within a few weeks, you’ll think you have been in the job for years and always remember, there’s always going to be another ‘new joinee’ to take that label off you soon enough.

with best compliments

Dr Wilfred Monteiro

www.synergymanager.net