The desire to make favorable impression on others is a strong one, so most of us do our best to look good to others. These efforts are worth the trouble.
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Persons who can perform impression management successfully do often gain important advantages in many situations. In includes efforts to improve our own appearance. This can be accomplished through good dress, personal grooming and judicious presentation.
Impression Management
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Impression Management methods are often used during job interviews that the organization conduct with applicants for various jobs in order to choose the best candidates. Think for a while: would not you try your best to make a good first impression on an interviewer if you are applying for a job ? Actually you have probably had experience in doing just this-in trying to look your best during interview. Research says that the interviewers’ ratings of job applicants is influenced by a wide range of factors. These factors include applicant’s physical appearance. The Sanskrit saying mentions “Vasthrena Vacha Vapusha”, Meaning that a person is Judged by his Dreams, Talk and Appearance.
Applicant’s Appearance
Candidates’ preparing for job interviews either for Civil services or others, dress or groom themselves as carefully as possible. Every one knows that appearance really matters where first impressions are concerned. Researchers’ suggest that such beliefs are well founded. Interviews’ rating of job applicants are influenced by the applicants’ appearance and factors relating to this. Attractive persons have an edge over less attractive ones. Similarly persons who dress for interviews in a manner considered appropriate by interviewers often receive higher ratings than persons who dress in a less appropriate manner. Interviews often assign higher ratings to applicants who emit high levels of non verbal crewpersons who smile, nod and lean forward frequently during an interview. The outcome of interviews is often influenced by aspects of applicant’s appearance.
We perceive and actually get what we expect to get. It appears, interviews form expectancies about job applicants before actually meeting them. The dossiers are given to the assessors of the interview board in advance. They frame an impression about the candidate, his education and the background from which he/she comes.
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The common question asked is how he or she is best suited for the job is question. The applicant should be prepared for this type of question in a befitting manner In contrast they may ask more searching and fewer supportive questions, may emit negative non verbal cues, and may focus on examining applicant qualifications and past experience. In most cases the applicants furnish out of enthusiasm more experience and when they are interrogated they fail to answer properly and prove themselves wrong. Similar is often the case of degrees which they acquire from distance education centers, which supply degrees liberally. One one occasion it was found a candidate possessing post graduate diploma at the age of 16.
Experiences play an role in job interviews, just as they do in many other social situations. Applicants who look good on paper before the interview may find themselves facing an interviewer who is largely on their side and who engages in actions that help them do their best. In contrast, applicants whose records are unimpressive may find themselves facing an interview who acts as adversary.
Why Are Interviews So Scary?
Have you ever felt jittery before an interview? Nervous or even terrified? Have you ever wished you had answered a question differently or negotiated your salary more skillfully? Do you panic when you imagine the possibility of “failure”? Do you just want to make sure you get it right in the first time?
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Interviews are not like normal conversations. Being interviewed can be scary, even for ordinarily outgoing people. When you’re sitting in the host seat, the interviewer is an authority figure, and he or she has all or most of the power in the interview.
An Assault against Anxiety
The most common fears that people have voiced about Interviewing are listed below. Many of us learned in childhood or later that “blowing your own horn” is a sign of being on an ego trip. But providing information about the nature of work you have done is not doing that.
Technical Questions :
They were easy, and I knew I had answered them right. The interviewer said I answered them wrong. What do I do in a situation like that? Sound familiar? If you are an engineer of scientist, you have very likely faced this type of scenario. It can be unnerving!
The Morning of the Interview
A good night’s sleep should be a priority before this important morning because there is a much to do before 10:00 A.M. interview. The morning hours should be focused on preparing to make an excellent first impression. There is only one chance for this to happen. Visualize positive interaction between you and interviews and you will convey good feelings and improve the chances of a positive outcome. If you speak with anyone on the morning of the interview, make sure that the person is supportive, positive and upbeat. Pretend you are about to attend a martial arts lesson on how to defend yourself against someone with a baseball bat. Get that adrenalin flowing. Be alert. Feel good about yourself. Be relaxed and maintain your inner confidence. You can do it.
Get Dressed For Success
Conservative clothing is in and beach thong are out. First impressions are formed mostly by nonverbal communications including appearance, facial expressions, eye contact, posture, and , least of all, spoken words. Before you utter a single word, you appearance already has. First impressions are formed within thirty seconds, many times subliminally. According to Joanne Pobiner, Certified Image Consultant and professional member of the Association of Image Consultants International (AICI), “significant value judgments are made based solely upon appearance, for example, economic status, education, level of success, sophistication, integrity, credibility, likeability and even moral character”. The visual integrity of job seekers is clearly at stake.
Casual business dress often turns ‘out to be causality dress in interview situation. Remember that you are not yet an employee and you must go through a hazing period before you are permitted to dress like one. Styles vary with profession as well as with regions of the country. If you are interviewing for a job in the advertising or entertainment industries, you may be able to dress less formally than in the financial services industry or legal profession.
Check the department’s website or annual report of the department that is interviewing you. View pictures of the management team. The most important aspect about your appearance for an interview is that you think you look great. If you look and feel great, your high tended self-confidence will likely make a favorable impression upon your interview.
Get There Early
Plan to arrive at the place of interview 30 mins before the scheduled interview, otherwise you will be stressed and lose the advantage for a positive first impression. Go to the location so that you will know exactly where it is, and walk or dive to the nearest coffee shop or eating establishment and just relax for half an hour. Review your notes from the research; think positive through about the upcoming interview. Before you leave the coffee shop, go the the rest room and take last minute look at yourself, particularly your simple. That will be your most widely used weapon during the interview. Arrive at the reception desk about ten minutes before the scheduled time. In an interview it is your opportunity to tell an employer what you have accomplished din the past and how you will help them in the future.
Last Minute Preparation
Before you leave home for the interview make sure you have everything you need. Interview and receptionist names, address, telephone number, and direction to the place are critical. Take a notepad and carry ballpoint pen.,bring three copies of your resume, but offer it only if asked. The notepad and selected reference material about the department should be placed in a folder. Buy the morning newspaper and read the headlines and the current affairs section for interesting, stories that might be brought up in the course of conversion.
Get ready fro fearless interviewing
Knowing your strengths, being able to provide concrete examples of those strengths, thereby building the lasting confidence to present yourself and your skills in the best possible light.
- What interviews are really looking for?
- How to charm your way into the interviewer’s heart in the first 20 seconds of the interview.
- How to express your strength sand skills with force and precision.
- How to handle even the most difficult questions.
- How to use body language in your favor.
- The most important questions to ask the employer.
- How to be a master at negotiating your salary.
Body Language
During the interview listen carefully to the questions. Your replies should focus on your position to meet the needs of the job.
Good listening is more important, than simply interrupting the interviewers. Pay full attention. Establish good eye contact and nod after every statement from the interview.
Unknowingly you will be conveying your doubts and fears along with your thoughts. your body language may be negative, even contradictory to your thoughts. Get well prepared with answers and do not fail to convince your interviews.
- Disagree pleasantly. Maintain a friendly tone while replying and keep a relaxed posture.
- Defensive body language such as fold arms or crossed legs is to be avoided.
- When you are making an important point, do not stare. Look at the interview in the eye.
- Be comfortable and relaxed. Don’t give the impression of being tense or desperate for the job. Be alert and attentive.
- Interviews may sometime put the candidate under stress to gauge their ability to handle the situation. It is important what you say and how you say. It will show how well you can handle crisis.
– by Dr. R. Ananta Padmanabha Rao.