Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 19, 1990 TAG: 9006190030
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By Tracie Fellers
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
But the euphoria may fade as quickly as the last strains of "Pomp and Circumstance" when grads encounter that first all-important job interview.
Job interviews can be intimidating - even for veterans of the process. But they don't have to be. With proper preparation, interviewing can be positive, not painful.
An important key to successful interviewing is appearance. First impressions do count. And one of the first things a prospective employer is likely to notice during an interview is the way a person is dressed.
"We're looking for an entire package - and when you're talking to an employer about a position, that first impression is going to go a long way," said Charles Barfield, senior human resources assistant for the Kroger Company's Mid-Atlantic marketing area.
If the first impression isn't a good one, "then it's hard to get beyond that," said Merle King, Dominion Bankshares' assistant vice president for human resources. "It takes a while to establish or prove your credibility. It distracts from the interview."
But dressing to impress doesn't have to put a strain on the job hunter's budget. In most instances, the combination of a sport coat, shirt, slacks and tie is suitable for men - and a skirt, blazer and blouse is acceptable interview dress for women, said Joe Sgroi, human resources director for Roanoke Memorial Hospitals.
However, job seekers should "use common sense and dress appropriately," he said. What is considered appropriate dress for an interview depends upon the job one seeks. For example, a person interviewing for a housekeeping position wouldn't be held to the same standard as someone looking for work as an accountant, he said.
Education and familiarity with the job market tend to lead professionals - such as the health care industry's therapists and medical technologists - to dress in a more conservative, tailored fashion, Sgroi added.
But whatever the position, leave the jeans and sneakers at home. "Nice, pressed clothes are expected. When things are clean and pressed, I think there's a sense of pride in the way people dress that could be carried over in their work," Sgroi said.
Career counselors at Hollins College recommend a simple, tailored look for interviewing. "Basically we tell them the dark suit is appropriate for anything," said career counselor Sylvia Bailey. The suit doesn't have to be expensive, but it definitely should be tailored, Bailey added.
Women should keep jewelry to a minimum. "You don't go in there with a handful of rings. If you wear earrings, you go in there with a conservative stud, not with five earrings going up the ear," she said.
Jewelry that might be more at home on the dance floor than in the office also can be distracting, King added. "If they've got the bangles on or inappropriate jewelry, you can't stay focused on the questions or what they're saying."
Simplicity should be the watchword for shoes and hosiery as well, Bailey said. The best bet for hosiery is flesh-tone pantyhose or stockings: "Some companies won't even look at you if you wear colored stockings," she added. Dark shoes with a medium heel are another wise choice.
King looks for "neat, professional dress" in job applicants. But again, the right look doesn't have to be a high-priced one. For instance, a male applicant doesn't have to wear a sophisticated suit - he can be acceptably dressed in a navy blazer and gray slacks, she said.
Women can achieve the kind of look King expects with a dress, "as long as it's tasteful and professional. I'm not one who believes that a woman has to wear a blue suit and a white blouse," she said.
"Sometimes you can make a lasting impression" by wearing something just a little different - like a navy dress with brass buttons, King added. That type of outfit says "that person is an individual and she has enough confidence in herself to believe that the credentials speak for themselves."
Interviewers also notice other things about a person's appearance - such as how clean-shaven a male applicant is, or, if he wears a beard, how closely trimmed is it, Barfield said. For female job candidates, accessories and makeup "should be compatible with with the job you're interviewing for."
But looks aren't everything. Those who hunt for good hires look for people who know something about the company and the job they seek before they come to the interview. "You wouldn't want to go out and buy a new car without talking about it or studying something about it, so I would say the same would be true with a prospective employer," Sgroi said.
Job applicants also should think carefully about the types of questions they ask during the interview, he said. "To me, questions about the job responsibilities, the working schedule . . . [or] what a manager might expect would be more important than asking: `Do you have free parking?' "
Information about a company of interest often can be found in annual reports, "or by picking up the phone and simply calling somebody within that organization," Barfield said. Prospective applicants also might consider going to the company and asking for someone to talk to.
"I would personally welcome that. When I have recruited for our management program, a lot of times that person I'm interviewing has talked to a store manager. That personal contact goes a long way with me. . . . That indicates that they want to go above and beyond what the norm is to learn and to know what they're getting into," he said.
Barfield also suggested that job seekers write down any questions they have and bring the list to the interview. "Too often a person will have 10 or 12 questions, and five minutes before the interview ends, they'll remember them. It's much more impressive" when a person can pull out a list of questions he'd planned to ask, Barfield said.
Job applicants should be prompt for the interview and primed to answer basic questions, King said. "For that first interview, there are general questions that everyone asks: what are your goals, what are your strengths, what are your weaknesses." Those types of questions shouldn't be difficult to answer, she said.
The interview "is your opportunity to sell yourself, make that impression, get that job. So often you only have 30 minutes to do that, and again, the preparation shows," she said.
If you do stumble on a question during the interview, don't dwell on it, King added. "Store it in the back of your mind and move on from that." If a better reply to the question comes to mind as the interview goes on, speak up and clarify the previous answer, she suggested.
"And follow-up is very important. I think that should be established at the end of the interview," King said. Interviewers won't be upset if you ask when you can expect to hear back or when the job will be filled, she added.
Each item - such as punctuality, appearance and following up - "is an opportunity to show the employer something about yourself," Sgroi said. His advice to applicants is "to be yourself, and also to have a sense of confidence about the interview process."
"A sense that you're applying for work you believe you can do and do well" is important, he added. "Certainly if that's true, that will come across. And if not, that will come across too."
by CNB