| A lot of people look at the world around them, but | | | | you in front of the public. |
| don't really see it. We all know there's a big difference | | | | Appearances matter. Like it or not, you're judged within |
| between careful observation and a passing glance. | | | | the first few seconds you meet a person, sometimes |
| When preparing for an interview, be thorough when it | | | | before you ever open your mouth. (This is true for all |
| comes to your appearance. Take a close look at your | | | | of us, of course.) The way you look is a key |
| reflection in the mirror. This is not the time for a | | | | component of how you're going to be perceived. |
| superficial "once over." You should be meticulous about | | | | You've got one chance to make an impression when |
| the presentation. | | | | you meet someone - and in this case, that someone is |
| Pay attention to details. Your shoes should be polished. | | | | the hiring manager. Once he's formed that impression, |
| Make sure labels are tucked away and hidden. Keep | | | | it's very hard (if not impossible) to change his mind. |
| jewelry to a minimum. You get the idea. | | | | Particularly in a hyper-competitive job market, you |
| Think that sounds like nit-picking? | | | | need to attend to every item that impacts how you're |
| Make a mistake here, and you could regret it. | | | | perceived - down to the smallest detail. |
| One of my clients was ex-military; as such, he was a | | | | The fine points are important. |
| real stickler about shoes. Though they were unaware | | | | Don't be the candidate everyone remembers for the |
| of it, he always put candidates through a bit of a mini | | | | wrong reason...like the guy who purchased a new |
| shoe "inspection" during interviews. Were they | | | | jacket for the occasion, but walked around the hiring |
| scuffed? Were they worn out? Were they shined? | | | | company's office all day oblivious to the fact that the |
| For him, this was one item he factored into his overall | | | | manufacturer's label was still affixed to the sleeve. |
| evaluation of a candidate's suitability. | | | | Scrutinize your reflection in the mirror carefully before |
| This type of scrutiny is not unusual, especially if the | | | | you walk out the door for that interview. |
| position for which you're interviewing is one that will put | | | | |