Essential Interviews Tips and Skills To Get You Started!
Essential Interviews Tips and Skills To Get You Started!
Home / Interviews Tips / Good Grooming Pays
Good grooming isn’t just a good idea, it is essential to the competent image you want to convey. Little things are noticed and do make a difference. Dirt under one’s fingernails or a badly frayed shirt collar on a man applying for an executive position can be knockout factors without his ever knowing it. What employer is going to tell the candidate these were reasons he was not selected!
You can’t afford not to pay attention to details of grooming and selection of apparel. You are the package you are selling. The wrapping on the package suggests both the care that was taken putting it together as well as the value of what lies inside. No detail is too small to be of concern and no message too unimportant to hone.
Hair. Mid length hair is recommended. Hair should neither be so short it reminds one of boot camp nor long enough to look unkempt, shaggy or like the remnant of a protest movement. Have your hair trimmed at least every three weeks. Cleanliness is essential. Shampoo your hair every day. You may want to select a shampoo for dry hair—even if yours isn’t—so as not to be too harsh with frequent use. Blow dry your hair. It will only take a few minutes each morning, but will give your hair a fuller, neater appearance. You may want to use a light spritz of a non-aerosol hairspray to hold—not glue—any wisps in place throughout the day.
Shirt. This should be its first wearing since it was cleaned and pressed. Yes, pressed. If you are buying 100% cotton shirts, as you should be, your shirts will need to be pressed. No time to iron shirts? Your neighborhood drycleaner will launder and press your shirts for you. Even polyester/cotton blends that say “wash and wear” look better when they have been pressed. Once the collar or cuffs begin to fray, toss that shirt so you won’t be tempted to wear it again. Avoid button-down collars on your dress shirts.
Car. Car? Yes, your car. You never know when the boss will see you drive up or invite you to continue the interview over lunch with some other decision makers, and you are the designated driver! Wash your car, vacuum the inside and clean out those old candy bar wrappers from the floor. Take the baby’s car seat out before you drive off for your interview.
Remember that you are “on stage” so to speak from the moment you drive into the company parking lot until you get back into your car and start home. Make sure everything about you conveys positive images!
