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I've been contented with my job for about two years, but I've decided that it's time to move on to greener pastures. I'm well aware that the job market isn't exactly booming, so I'm playing on securing a new position before quitting but unfortunately, that puts some serious time constraints on my job search.
I was hoping that some of you might have job hunting and interview tips. Any advice would be appreciated so feel free to throw out just about anything. Thanks!
If you're unsure what to wear when coming into contact with a potential employer, overdressing is better than underdressing. Are you in any particular industry?
Assuming you aren't applying to job where you'll have to wear a name tag, the correct way to dress to an interview is thus:
A conservatively cut suit in solid navy or charcoal (you can maybe get away with a pattern on a charcoal/grey suit if it's fine and subtle). A white shirt and a sensible tie, either a solid color like burgundy or a sober pattern. It's appropriate to wear black shoes with your suit to an interview but brown ones aren't totally unacceptable either. Get a nice-looking haircut a few days before and make sure it's set right before you go in, shave carefully, make there isn't a bit of food in your teeth, make sure your fingernails are clean and in good shape. Get your full eight hours sleep and a good meal before you go in.
As far as finding openings in the first place, you should use the shotgun approach, i.e. look in as many places as you possibly can. Classifieds, every online job-listing service, maybe a headhunter, make sure all your friends and so forth know you are looking for a job so they can turn you on to anything they might know of. Knowing people is incredible valuable, you never know who will say "oh yeah I happen to know so-and-so is looking for a such-and-such". You want as many people as humanly possible looking at your resume, remember you don't lose a single thing if they think you're totally unacceptable and throw it in the trash.
And if you smoke cigarettes, hold off until after the interview.Quote:
Originally Posted by Syme
And if you smoke crack, make sure to show off your pipe to the interviewer.
Good advice. In fact be careful of anything that has to do with the way you smell. E.g., don't be liberal with your aftershave, and don't wear cologne (well if you wear cologne properly the interviewer probably won't notice it anyhow, but still). Don't eat something garlicky before going in. All that. Scent can play a major role in forming personal impressions even if we don't consciously factor it in.Quote:
Originally Posted by KT.