Interview Attire and Grooming: Look your professional best. Study tells us that dressing up does not only make you look good, it also makes you feel great. So, for the interview, plan an attire that not only makes you look smart, but also gives you a comfortable fit. A tip here is to put on clothing you are familiar with. Wearing something entirely new, may make you uncomfortable and fidgety. Also, let the focus be on your face. Avoid anything distracting like bright colours, too much jewellery, make up or strong fragrances. Also, avoid noisy footwear and untidy hair.

Stay Calm and Composed at an Interview: Focus on the positive to curb Interview nervousness. Some of my students ask, “How do I get over the daunting look of the interviewer, it makes me nervous?” Although, it is natural to be nervous, it does not rule out maintaining eye contact. So, what to do? Maintain eye contact, however avoid staring. A tip here is to drive your thoughts onto something positive in the room. Even if there are a panel of interviewers, interviewing you, search for that one positive face or that one thing in the room that you can glance to, on and off for solace. It could preferably be a flower vase on the table or a picture frame in front of you, etc. The idea is to transfer your nervousness on to something that pleases. A word of caution. It just needs to be a glance. So, you will still need to maintain eye contact with the entire panel of interviewers when you answer questions and don’t forget to smile.

Be well prepared with expected questions at an Interview: Answering questions can be a tough one especially when you are anxious about the job interview. However, when you are well prepared, half your battle is won. A tip here is to be honest. Speak about your skills and strengths and give live examples where necessary. When you speak about your own strengths and share an example from your recent past, based on this strength, it comes across as authentic and trustworthy. Examples are often remembered and are easy to relate with. Request a friend or family to help you practice your answers naturally over a mock interview.

Sandra Barros is an Image Management Consultant and Soft Skills Trainer. She trains young professionals, women and students on various aspects of image and soft skills. She helps fresh job aspirants and young professionals on their journey to success. If you are a young job seeker planning an interview and want to learn more about ‘Interview Overalls’, join the workshop. It includes attire, behaviour and conduct at an interview, how to answer questions effectively at an interview, planning an interview, writing an impressive resume authentic to yourself with the help of SWOT analysis and more. We also conduct online programs for this topic. For more details visit www.barrosimageconsultancy.com