It’s important when you are in an interview that you act professionally at all times; whilst this can sound quite daunting, there are several easy tips you can follow to help you remember to conduct yourself professionally at all times and make a great first impression.
- Punctuality
Nobody likes that one person that’s always late; make sure you’re on time for your interview, preferably arriving 10-15 minutes earlier than your interview is ideal; however, arriving too early can be as unprofessional as arriving late. Arriving too early means that the interviewer can feel pressured to hurry up what they’re doing and attend to you.
- Dress Appropriately
Dress appropriately to suit the interview tone; you should dress how you would be dressing for the job role itself if the tone is formal wear. If in doubt, always dress more on the formal side; this shows the interviewer that you have made an effort. It also shows the interviewer that you would be suited for the role as you appropriately fit into the job role.
- Introductions
Introduce yourself to people you meet; this helps you come across as confident and shows that you are a friendly person. It also shows that you can socialize with people and have good social skills.
- Phone
It is essential to ensure you turn your phone off before an interview; you don’t want to risk receiving a phone call mid-interview. It makes you look unprofessional and unprepared if you receive a phone call or notification. If you go to answer your phone, you come across as very unprofessional and even rude.
- Handshake
When you shake hands with the interviewer, it is important to ensure you have a firm handshake. A handshake that is too weak makes you come across as passive or submissive, and a handshake that is too strong and overbearing can make you come across as overly confident, arrogant even.
- Ask Questions
Asking questions is an important part of an interview; it makes you look professional and interested.
When you ask questions about the company itself, it makes you look as though you are genuinely interested in working for the company. Asking questions shows you can think for yourself and shows you’re a clever person who wants to learn more.
- Confidence
Acting confident can make your professionalism shine through. Acting confident immediately makes a person seem more professional and therefore more suited to the job role. It is important to get the message across that you are confident without appearing too arrogant. An employer wants to hire a confident person and is confident they can complete their tasks. When a person seems less confident, they tend to be more socially withdrawn and unsure of themselves when producing work.
