by Allison Kapner
How are dating and interviewing the same? Let’s examine Step 3: Prepping for the interview or date…
What to wear?
Photo courtesy Athena Flickr. Flickr Creative Commons.
My philosophy for interviewing and dating is to air on the conservative side. Ladies, showing skin is showing skin no matter what situation you’re in. If you’re looking for a quick fix at the bar or to work at a strip club, skin works. If not, I recommend skirts that fall at the knee or below, no stilettos, and blouses that leave something to the imagination. Your hair should be simple, too distracting will take attention away from what you’re saying, and hopefully by this point, you realize the importance of having intelligent things to say. Conservative jewelry is best also, unless of course you are headed into the world of fashion or some other creative industry.
Men, same goes for you, nothing too tight (we’re not on the Jersey Shore) and not too much hair gel or cologne.
Dark suits for all are recommended, again, unless you’re going into fashion or another creative field where a dark suit will be seen as stodgy. And no matter what field you’re going into, stay away from white suits. Laughing at that suggestion? Trust me, I have seen it… and it’s not a pretty sight.
Sure, for dates, there is no standard, but my advice is to stick to something classy or cute that speaks to your personality. And remember to leave something to the imagination. Also, if the guy is picking you up, make sure you ask where you’re going. The last thing you want to do is show up in high heels and a summer dress when you’re going to the rodeo!
Get enough sleep
No one likes bags under your eyes, period. Or someone who yawns their way through an interview or date.
Be there. EARLY!
Before an interview, I always get there an hour early and scope out the area. This gives me time to relax a bit, leaves a cushion for getting lost and alleviates some of the frenzy. However, I don’t actually go into the company’s lobby until much closer to the interview.
As for dating, I think the old school dating rule of letting a man wait for you is just that – old school. If he gets there on time, you should show him the same respect and be ready on time.
Practice, practice, practice!
More so for interviews, but if you have social anxiety or feel awkward on first dates, there is nothing wrong with standing at the mirror and practicing your greeting, answering “typical” interview or date questions or just smiling.
Know your brand (see previous blogs posted by my peers) and do not feel ashamed to practice speaking about yourself. The more natural you are able to speak about yourself the more you will engage people. Energy draws people in and energy is a by-product of being comfortable with who you are.
Allison Kapner is a Relationship Manager in Career Services at the Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School where she is responsible for building partnerships with employers to ultimately create job and internship opportunities for students and alumni. She also advises and coaches students on job search techniques and brings a unique corporate expertise to assist candidates, as her past experience was as an Executive Recruiter in financial services in New York City.
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Tags: Allison Kapner, Dating, Interviewing, Personal Brand
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