So this is of course new to me, as the only interviews I've ever had were for like retail. And those interviews are pretty much just handing you the job anyway. But now I actually have to be prepared for this one. It's a customer service job for an insurance company. My main question is what should I wear? Hopefully khaki pants will be fine, as that's all I have aside from jeans... As for my shirt, I have a choice between a short sleeve black polo or a long sleeve flannel. Which is the better choice? I have a tattoo on my forearm as well, so I'm thinking it might be better to wear long sleeves, but... I'm not sure if a flannel is actually "professional attire".
Help please.
And any other tips as far as the interview goes would be nice.
-- ~Halo You're not the brightest. http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/907/bandfinisher.jpg
Definitely go shopping. I actually just went today and picked up a new black blazer for an interview I've got coming up. I'm wearing that, black slacks, and a brightly colored thin v-neck tshirt (a nice one) for mine. But you get a little more leeway with jobs in the design field. You don't have to be in classic business attire because they want you to express yourself. That's kinda the point lol.
Aaaanyway. For an insurance company I would say a dress shirt and tasteful tie (no crazy patterns and what not) plus either khakis or black slacks and nice shoes would be in order. Polos are fine for things like retail or restaurant interviews, but this is a more serious business. A polo doesn't really cut it.
And get the flannel idea right out of your mind totally. What are you, trying to hit on me? =]
Also, I realise it can be a difficult thing when you're working with next to no money (like me) to go out and buy dress clothes. But you have to think of it as an investment for your future. No one will hire you if you look like a hobo. And it's not like you have to buy super expensive things. You could even hit up the Good Will or some other second hand stores for virtually un-used dress clothes. Just have to make sure they don't look out of date or anything.
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http://img.imgcake.com/crimjpgpe.jpg Mo' buildings mo' problems ocean kinda grew on me like a flesh eating ...fungus. -BIGPUN9999
If you really want the job you may as well consider pawning a few things temporarily to acquire the necessary funds for that shirt-and-tie combo. Even if you don't land said job such clothing will help you out big-time with lots of other potential employers.
If you think the flannel is passable then go for it and see what happens. Definitely don't have the tat showing, though.
--
"Mr. Paris, I assume you've had a great deal of experience being rejected by women." ~SCP~ http://img.imgcake.com/Jeffzeropngus.png
Sweater vest + tie, IMO. Look presentable. Like someone they want to hire. Clean shaven is probably your best bet, unless you have a nice mustache that doesn't look bad.
Smile, eye contact. Good posture. Interject a little personality, don't be a robot.
ShadowHalo17 posted... Oh sweet, I actually did fine a long sleeve black button up shirt. That will work, right?
That's what I tend to wear actually. I haven't had trouble with interviews dressed as such. I haven't applied for this sort of position before though...
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"Mr. Paris, I assume you've had a great deal of experience being rejected by women." ~SCP~ http://img.imgcake.com/Jeffzeropngus.png
Everyone covered your clothing requirements, so what you need to worry about is the interview itself. Spend your evening thinking of answers to the following questions:
-"Tell me about yourself" (brief summary ultimately tying into why you're a good choice for the job) -Why do you want this role? -What past experiences have prepared you for this role? -Think of a time you had to deal with an irate customer. How did you handle the situation? -What are your key strengths? What is your weakness? -How do you handle multiple tasks/priorities?
Also, research the company beforehand, they'll probably ask you why you want to work for that company in particular so you should have something in reserve to respond to it. Recruiters love to think you're actually applying for the job because of the company itself, and not just because you need the job.
Also, at the end of the interview they ask if you have any questions for them. Have a few lined up just in case, as it makes you seem interested - nothing about money, and nothing about the company which you could've researched online. Token crap like "How would you describe the responsibilities of the position?" or "How would you describe a typical week/day in this position?" would work.
If you've never been in a formal interview before, you gotta be prepared beforehand unless you really are quick on your feet... you need to prove you're better than the other people they're also interviewing, after all. Good luck!
From: MartinFF7 | #024 -"Tell me about yourself" (brief summary ultimately tying into why you're a good choice for the job)
You should rehearse this, btw. Most people tend to babble. Get a good 45-60 second blurb covering your work history/achievements, your personal attributes (pick ones that would be useful for the job!), and a little info about your personal interests.
-- ICON: When there's nothing left to burn, you have to set Bidoof on fire.
From: CrimsonOcean | #029 So how'd the interview go?
Just got back. Went fine. Wasn't really much of an interview per se, it was more just them seeing what I was like I guess. They're gonna give me a call either tomorrow or Thursday to set up a second interview and we'll go from there.
A nice shirt, tie, and slacks are bare minimum for any professional job. I'd recommend investing in a suit. I've never worn anything less to an interview, and I wear a suit every day to work now. I can tell it's appreciated. People may think it's a bit much for some interviews, but it's much better to err on the side of conservatism, and most interviewers will appreciate that you took the effort.
As for other strategies: maintain good posture, good eye contact, and don't forget to smile. If you're confident in your humor, try to make the interviewer(s) laugh a couple of time. Talk up your character, especially if your qualifications are light.
And for the love of Pete, don't mention how you think male Shep is better than FemShep.
-- Yoblazer: http://i44.tinypic.com/5nw45i.jpg Watch and you'll see... someday I'll be... part of your world!