Job interviews are the worst. They’re stressful and can wreck your confidence if you’re not picked for the job. In this economy, you need to be at the top of your game. We’ve developed this exhaustive checklist to help you look and do your best at your next job interview.
1. Practice with friends and family. You should have already done research on the most common job interview questions as well as the company you’re interviewing with. Make a printout of these questions and have a mock interview with a pal or family member. This way, you can rehearse your responses and get constructive criticism. After all, practice makes perfect.
2. Get a good night’s sleep. Don’t go out partying the night before your interview. If you do, chances are you’ll oversleep and/or be too hungover to get through the job interview. Aim for at least eight hours of sleep to ensure you’re sufficiently rested. Stayed out too late anyway? Drink a lot of water and use a men’s eye cream to get rid of your undereye circles the morning after. For more tips on undereye circles, check out “Get Rid of Puffy Eyes and Dark Circles.”
3. Follow a proper men’s grooming routine. Whether you like it or not, you’re going to be judged on your appearance. Stick to conservative attire like a traditional business suit unless you’re applying for a creative position. Ensure your clothes are all ironed – no wrinkles – and that your facial hair is neatly trimmed. When shaving, use a men’s shaving gel and men’s aftershave to minimize the risk of cuts, razor burn and ingrown hair. Also, don’t use too much men’s hair gel or pomade – this can make your hair too crunchy or greasy, respectively.
4. Don’t be late. One of the worst things you can do is be late to an interview. Companies usually block out a chunk of their day to interview candidates, so they’re on a tight schedule. Showing up late to an interview shows that you don’t value their time and makes for a terrible first impression. Arrive early if possible but not too early – wait in your car until there’s about 5-10 minutes before your interview.
5. Go to the bathroom before your interview. Do a last-minute check in the restroom to make sure your appearance is up to snuff. Maybe your tie is a little crooked. Maybe your glasses are a little dirty. Maybe you need to apply some men’s moisturizer. This is your last chance to tweak your appearance before the big interview. Make it count. For help with some quick skincare tweaks, read “10 Men’s Grooming Tips You Can Do Under 1 Minute or Less.”
6. Give a firm handshake. You want to project confidence; a limp handshake has the opposite effect. When shaking hands, adjust your grip to match the interviewer’s grip and hold for a few seconds. If you tend to have sweaty hands, make sure you have a tissue handy to wipe off any excess sweat and oil.
7. Ask questions. When asked if you have any questions, you better have questions. Job interviews shouldn’t be a one-way street. Have some questions based on your research prepared beforehand, so you aren’t caught off guard. The only topic that off-limits is salary – save that for when you land the job.
8. Be grateful. Thank the interviewers and be sure to send a thank-you email later that day. It’s pretty much expected these days. And even if you think the interview went well, continue to seek other opportunities – it’s important not to limit yourself.
