Professionalism-First Impressions

First impressions, whether they are on the phone, through email or in person, can make a big difference in how others perceive you. Before you speak to someone who doesn't know you, consider the impression you will be making.

Email
If you send your application via the web, the first thing an employer will see is the return address of the email. You will not make a positive first impression if your email address is 'hotlady@yahoo.com.' If you send your application or resume via email, it is best to:
Use your Barnard or Columbia email address.
Make sure any quotes, poems, or song lyrics in your email signature are deleted before sending an email to a potential employer.
Observe the Netiquette Code. OCD has a fact sheet on Netiquette available in our office and on our website.

Voice Mail/Answering Machine
Employers are going to call you to set-up an interview time. Do you play music on your voicemail or answering machine? Is there a lot of background noise? If you leave your cell phone or dorm room phone number on your resume or job application, consider this:
Be sure that people you live with know that you may have potential employers calling, and that they will answer the phone politely.
Your answering message should be clear, understandable, and free of background noise (such as street traffic) and music.
Don't answer your cell phone on the street or in a crowded, noisy place if you've given that number to potential employers.

Pre-Interview
When you have an interview, consider that you're being noticed from the moment you walk in the door, even if it's not by the interviewer. Remember:
Take your headphones off before you reach the building.
Be polite to the receptionist or greeter.
Be on time! Lateness is never acceptable and is usually the number one pet peeve of employers. If you are going to be late due to an emergency circumstance, call ahead to let the interviewer know you are on your way.
Turn off you cell phone, pager, Blackberry, and any other personal technology.
Finish your coffee before you reach the building.
Do not bring beverages with you into the interview. If you must have water, ask the interviewer if s/he minds if you drink it during the interview.

Tips for a Successful Interview

Clothing and Accessories
Be sure your outfit will make you feel great, professional, and comfortable. It's usually best to err on the side of looser, not tighter. Think about your personal coloring, body type, and of course the type of position you are interviewing for, when you consider what to wear. Check "Fashion Book" in the OCD Library for ideas on professional and fashionable wardrobes. Practice wearing your interview clothes to make sure you feel comfortable in them. That way you can concentrate on your interview, and not on your outfit.

There are several things you should avoid when going for an interview. The following list was emailed to a college career center from an employer who had been interviewing teaching candidates. She was dismayed to see the following during the interviews:
Denim clothing
Un-tucked or wrinkled shirts
Sleeveless shirts
Bare legs
Multiple tattoos
Bare/exposed midriffs
Large jewelry
Extreme cleavage
Overpowering perfume
Outrageous nails
Micro/mini skirts or shorts
Multiple piercings, particularly tongue stud

You may be saying to yourself, "I have several piercings, and I like to wear mini-skirts. I wouldn't want to work somewhere that won't allow me to express myself, therefore I won't change just for an interview." You owe it to yourself to be as professional and presentable as possible at an interview- wearing a suit for an interview doesn't mean you'll have to wear one for the rest of your life. While the standards for professional dress may be the same for interviews, they may not be very different in the actual office environment. Do some research on the environment of the company and see if you can determine their dress policies. Once you're offered the job, but before you've accepted it, you can evaluate if the environment is right for you.

Body Language
Have you ever seen yourself on video and thought, "I do that?" Body language is not beyond your control- if you're aware of it, you can change it! Make an appointment in OCD for a video-taped Mock Interview. Remember, you don't want to distract your interviewer with your clothing, accessories, or body language- you want the interviewer focused on what you're saying.
Keep still! Don't pace, balance back and forth on your heels or from side-to-side, or cross and uncross your legs excessively.
Don't twirl, toss, or play with your hair. Keep your hands clasped together in your lap.
Don't touch your face or your mouth.
Maintain eye-contact.
Sit up straight- be confident!

On the Job
You can use these same guidelines for professionalism on the job as well. You should be able to figure out the environment in the first few days of work. Define the office environment based on a successful person in the organization, not the person who's fashion sense you most appreciate. Check our Fact Sheet, "Professionalism, On the Job" for other tips on making a good impression in the workplace.