Interviewing for the job: Making Your Image and Appearance Work for You

Preparing for an interview includes carefully planning the way you would dress, groom and present yourself. Even the most qualified candidate can lose a job offer solely on image. MedZilla asks an image expert about dress, grooming and body language guidelines. Using these will help candidates not only make a better presentation but also feel better and more confident for the interview.

For Immediate Release

Interviewing for the job: Making Your Image and Appearance Work for You

Marysville, WA - January 23, 2004 Image isnt everything in the interview, but its key to your success in landing a job.

We often talk about how important it is to be prepared for the interview by having done your homework about the company and the job. We always focus on the importance of being able to answer all types of interview questions, including behaviorally based questions, which catch many unknowing job seekers off guard. But despite all the preparation and skill you might bring to the table when interviewing, if your dress is inappropriate, your nails are unkempt, or your body language sends a negative message, your chances of landing a good job are slim to none, says Michele Groutage, Director of Marketing at MedZilla.com, a leading Internet recruitment and professional community that targets jobseekers and HR professionals in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and science.

Experts say there are clear guidelines to follow when it comes to image during the interview and those that cross the imaginary edges of these guidelines will often find themselves with rejection letters.

Judith Rasband, director of the Conselle Institute of Image Management, says that imagethe way you dress, groom yourself and your body languagesends an important message about who you are. Not only that, says the author of several books including the Image Management Quick Reference Guide for Professionals, but your image also affects the way you feel and perform during the interview. Rasband has consulted with Lawrence Livermore Laboratories, Kmart, Target, IBM and other well-known corporations about image.

Your dress

Dress includes anything you do to physically alter your image. It includes not only clothing but also accessorieseven body piercing and tattoos.

Rasband says that one should dress traditionally, rather than too conservatively, for the interview. For men, this might mean a jacketed outfitnot necessarily a suit and tie. Suit and tie is appropriate for some more conservative industries, such as banking; however, even then, Rasband tells men and women to avoid wearing black (which is ultra conservative and might intimidate). Rather, navy, grey or brown is good. Definitely, men, dont wear powder blues or pinks and avoid light suits unless youre in tropical climates. Mens jacketed outfits should include at least one collaron the shirt, jacket or both, she says. Why? The collar lifts the attention up to the face, frames the face and communicates authority, capability, credibility, she says.

She encourages women to wear a jacket-skirt combination or jacketed dress. High quality slacks is OK, too. The most authoritative and sometimes intimidating color, again, is black. For women, navy, brown, burgundy, hunter and teal are good colors. Were not going to do fuchsia, or pink, because it communicates froufrou, according to Rasband.

The same goes for accessories as for clothes: nothing extremely formal and nothing novelty. Men, stay away from ties bearing faces, cartoon characters, numbersanything that might draw the interviewers eyes from your face. Rather choose a tie that complements or brings out your eye color. Make sure your tie is in good shape, with no pulled threads or wrinkles. Cufflinks or French cuffs are more for formal business. Belts are good and shoes should be polished, clean and in good repair.

Regardless of your gender, visible tattoos or body piercings (other than traditional earrings in women) are considered negative body images for interviewing.

Women ought to lose the chandelier, or dangly earrings; they wiggle and distract attention. In addition, dont go overboard on the jewelry by wearing a ring on every finger or dozens of bracelets on your arms. Stockings (nude or beige) are important, Rasband says. Knee high, stockings are OK under slacks and long skirts, as long as the edge is not visible.

The shoes that women wear during the interview generally should be closed heel and toe. Shoes should coordinate with the color of the hem of a skirt or pants, she says. Use shoulder pads only as a fitting tool (not a fashion trend) to fill out shoulders and make them more proportionate or balanced with the rest of the body.

Your nails, hair, etc.

Grooming is a big part of your image. Your hair should be neatly styled and not distracting. Nails must be neatly shaped and clean in men and women, and womens nail polish ought to be subtle. Dont go overboard with the perfume or cologne.

Wash and scrub your face to make sure there is no loose skin and wipe any dandruff from your shoulders.

Womens makeup, according to Rasband, should look natural. Avoid trendy eye shadow colors, like light blue, or too much rouge, she says.

Youre fidgeting. Stop!

Body language communicates your stress level, your level of control and confidence. Rasband says you should be aware so that you stand and sit tall. Walk in the door, pause and look over surroundings get your bearings and stride comfortably into the interview, she says.

Avoid crossing your arms or fidgeting. Dont clench your fists or make large, flamboyant gestures. Speak with a smile. Be engaged in the conversation with your eyes on the interviewer and talk about yourself only if what youre going to say has some benefit to the organization. If you talk, keep your answers brief.

Lean back in your chair periodically and when they ask something that appears important lean forward with all the attention on what theyre saying. Use your body to communicate comfort, approval, cooperation, she says.

Like everything else, this takes practice and research

Candidates often brush off image as the easy part. Its not. Often, people dont even realize it when they're fidgeting. Recruiters commonly tell candidates to practice in front of a mirror, or a video camera or a friend, who looks for distracting things and is willing to point them out, says Frank Heasley, PhD, President and CEO of MedZilla. We also recommend that candidates do research into the culture of the organization. Not every scientist or biotech researcher wears a suit to work. We recommend that candidates go to the interview dressed one level above the average level where they intend to work.


About MedZilla.com

Established in mid 1994, MedZilla is the original web site to serve career and hiring needs for professionals and employers in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medicine, science and healthcare. MedZilla databases contain about 10,000 open positions, 13,000 resumes from candidates actively seeking new positions and 50,000 archived resumes.

Medzilla is a Registered Trademark owned by Medzilla Inc. Copyright 2004, MedZilla, Inc. Permission is granted to reproduce and distribute this text in its entirety, and if electronically, with a link to the URL www.medzilla.com. For permission to quote from or reproduce any portion of this message, please contact Michele Groutage, Director of Marketing and Development, MedZilla, Inc. Email: e-mail protected from spam bots.

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Contact: Michele Groutage
Company: MedZilla, Inc.
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Phone: 360-657-5681
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