“April is the Cruelest Month”-T.S. Eliot
Interview Etiquette
Every April, as interview and placement season gets into full swing,
candidates brush up their resumes and cover letters, practice their talking points, and dig into the position listings, while those of us on
the hiring side of the table are busy again trying to figure out how to clear
our calendars and put our game faces on, as we settle in for yet another flurry
of dark suits, and shined shoes, filled by candidates eager to impress. It's a whirl of activity, no matter which side of the table you sit on, and at times, you get lost in it. It's important, though, that when you do, you don't forget your manners.
Having been on the interviewer side of the table somewhere
in the neighborhood of a thousand times, I’ve seen many approaches to the
interview, both good and bad. Over the
past few years, though, I have noticed more lapses in candidate etiquette. The
following article from the Vault, a respected job search site, shows that other
employers are having this impression as well.
http://www.vault.com/surveys/manners/index.jsp
Having flubbed several interviews in my lifetime, I know
what it is like to be on that end of the equation as well, so I’d like to offer
some good links to articles about interview etiquette. Good luck with interview
season!
General Interview Etiquette:
http://www.getahead-direct.com/gwin08-interview-etiquette.htm
Dining Etiquette:
http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/interviews/a/interviewdining.htm
What advice could you offer today’s candidates on how to be
successful in their interviews? Please consider sharing your perspectives by
commenting on this post.
