Learn how to dress for a job interview - tips for women in the job market

Learn how to dress for a job interview

Remember, you are marketing a product - yourself - to a potential employer, and the first thing the employer sees when greeting you is your attire; so you must make every effort to have the proper dress for the type of job you are seeking. Will dressing properly get you the job? Of course not, but it will give you a competitive look and a positive first impression.

How should you dress? Dressing conservatively is always the safest route, but you should also try and do a little investigating of your prospective employer so that what you wear to the interview makes you look as though you fit in with the organization. If you overdress (which is rare but can happen) or under dress (more likely), the potential employer may feel that you don't care enough about the job.

How do you find out about the dress code? If you know someone that works there, ask. If not, call the Human Resources office or check when you're there to pick up a job application.
Here are some tips for women in the job market:

• Basically, with all the differences in dress codes at different organizations, it would be impossible to come up with 'the outfit' for all employers. One rule would be to dress as if you worked there already - -but slightly better.
• Go for the more business-like attire. Avoid flashy colors or clanking jewelry; don't look fussy.
• Pick something that you are comfortable in.
• Carry a professional looking briefcase instead of a purse.
• Jewelry should be kept to a minimum. Flashy pieces are fun, but are best saved for other day.

Cologne or perfume should be minimal or non-existent.

Hair should be neat and clean. Take a comb or small brush with you to make last minute adjustments if necessary.

Make up is essential. Be sure it is well applied. Avoid bright lipsticks, heavy eye makeup or excessive blush.

Unless you are applying for a job in the music or film industry, remove jewelry from extraneous piercings such as tongue, lip, nose or brow.

Pick your outfit ahead of time then forget about it - -think about selling your skills, not your wardrobe.

And don't forget to smile! That is the best fashion accessory - -looking like you are happy to be there and proud to talk about the value YOU can bring to their company.

Look good and your confidence will shine through.

How to dress for a job interviewtips for men:
Before you go, be sure you really know the company you will be interviewing with, and research the industry that it's a part of to familiarize yourself with the universal dress code. Ask a friend at the company to find out what current employees wear on the job.

• Go in a suit and tie to any company that's part of a more formal industry, such as banking or law. Choose a basic black, dark gray or dark navy suit, a matching tie and black leather lace-up shoes. Opt for dressy casual attire for a company that you know doesn't expect suits. Keep interview accessories professional. Take a briefcase to carry rsum, references or other pertinent documents. Place your watch in your pocket once you make it to the front door so that you're not tempted to look at it during the interview.
• Check your appearance before heading into an interview. Now that you know how to dress appropriately for a job interview, you might want to brush up your resume to really impress your soon-to-be employer!

Congratulations on gaining admission to the University and best wishes for the next three years. This article is designed to introduce you to university life, to help you settle in quickly, and to study more productively. It is based on over twenty years experience of university teaching and dealing with students in three continents. The suggestions here should work for most people most of the time. However, everyone is an individual and you might find that a particular piece of advice may not work well in your case. It is suggested that you try them all out and if you find something is not working well for you, then ignore it and try something else. Always remember that you are seeking the best way for you, not trying to follow some obligatory set of rules. `If it works, use it' is the best advice you can get, always bearing in mind that this should always be within the law and usually within the accepted social mores of the society you are in. There is no one simple way of ensuring success at university but three elements seem to be common to those who generally do well. Firstly, they go to all the lectures, workshops, and seminars that are set for them, pay attention while present and take notes. Secondly, they work for long hours on their own, outside the organised time. Thirdly, they use their time effectively. All these three factors are within your power to control and you should try to follow all three. The third one is particularly powerful, because even if you choose to waste your time and miss some lectures, you might as well be efficient about using the study time you do to your best advantage. Underpinning all three elements is the component of motivation. If you are strongly motivated, you can achieve a great deal. A strong will to succeed is a most important part of achieving your potential, both at university and in your future career.

This article has been written from the standpoint of an undergraduate in the Faculty of Asian and International Studies at Griffith University, but the advice contained should be useful to all. The advice contained here is practical and I do not subject you to theoretical constructs that might help us to understand how people learn but really are of more importance to experts in the field than to students. I am not an educational psychologist, merely an ordinary academic of more years experience than I care to think about. The somewhat miscellaneous list of suggestions presented here arose from my experience in teaching over the years and advising students in and after courses, as well as from marking essays and examinations.

Applying for a Job

After you have found some jobs that interest you, the next step is to apply for them. You will almost always need to complete application forms. Later, you will probably need to go on interviews to meet with employers face to face.

Application forms. Application forms give employers written evidence of your qualifications and skills. The goal of these documents is to proveas clearly and directly as possiblehow your qualifications match the jobs requirements. Do this by highlighting the experience, accomplishments, education, and skills that most closely fit the job you want.

Gathering information. As a first step, gather the following facts:

           Contact information, including your name, mailing address, e-mail address (if you have one you check often), and telephone number.

           Type of work or specific job you are seeking or a qualifications summary, which describes your best skills and experience in just a few lines.

           Education, including school name and its city and State, months and years of attendance, highest grade completed or diploma or degree awarded, and major subject or subjects studied. Also consider listing courses and awards that might be relevant to the position. Experience, paid and volunteer. For each job, include the job title, name and location of employer, and dates of employment. Briefly describe your job duties and major accomplishments. In a resume, write, for example, 'Supervised 10 children' instead of writing 'I supervised 10 children.'

           Special skills. You might list computer skills, proficiency in foreign languages, achievements, or and membership in organizations in a separate section.

           References. Be ready to provide references if requested. Good references could be former employers, coworkers, or teachers or anyone else who can describe your abilities and job-related traits. You will be asked to provide contact information for the people you choose.

Throughout the application, focus on accomplishments that relate most closely to the job you want. You can even use the job announcement as a guide, using some of the same words and phrases to describe your work and education.

Look for concrete examples that show your skills. When describing your work experience, for instance, you might say that you increased sales by 10 percent, finished a task in half the usual time, or received three letters of appreciation from customers.

Choosing a format. After gathering the information you want to present, the next step is to put it in the proper format. In an application form, the format is set. Just fill in the blanks. But make sure you fill it out completely and follow all instructions. Do not omit any requested information. Consider making a copy of the form before filling it out, in case you make a mistake and have to start over. If possible, have someone else look over the form before submitting it.

In a resume, there are many ways of organizing the information you want to include, but the most important information should usually come first. Most applicants list their past jobs in reverse chronological order, describing their most recent employment first. But some applicants use a functional format, organizing their work experience under headings that describe their major skills. They then include a brief work history section that lists only job titles, employers, and dates of employment. Still other applicants choose a format that combines these two approaches in some way.

Whatever format you choose, keep your resume short. Many experts recommend that new workers use a one-page resume..

Before submitting your resume, make sure that it is easy to read. Keep in mind that many employers scan resumes into databases, which they then search for specific keywords or phrases. The keywords are usually nouns referring to experience, education, personal characteristics. Identify keywords by reading the job description and qualifications in the job ad; use these same words in your resume. For example, if the job description includes customer service tasks, use the words 'customer service' on your resume. Scanners sometimes misread paper resumes, which could mean some of your keywords dont get into the database. So, if you know that your resume will be scanned, and you have the option, e-mail an electronic version. If you must submit a paper resume, make it scannable by using a simple font and avoiding underlines, italics, and graphics. It is also a good idea to send a traditionally formatted resume along with your scannable resume, with a note on each marking its purpose.

By the turn of the century computers will be a fashion item, chosen and worn like designer jewellery, says the Japanese electronic company NEC. Designers at the companys Advanced PC Design Center in Tokyo are already working on wearable computers, some of which will go on sale within five years. NEC says the technology to make them is available now, but they cannot be sold yet because they would be prohibitively expensive, and batteries with enough power to be useful are too large and heavy to wear.

The computers have not been designed purely for style- they are indeed for use in places where desktop or laptop computers are inconvenient, and where people would prefer a computer strapped to their body. Designers also hope to change the image, as well as the appearance, of computers: They are trying to get away from the idea of the computer as a rather threatening box. They envisage a time when computers will be worn with style.

The designers have also come up with a computer to be worn around the shoulders by paramedics. It leaves their hands free for attending to patients and driving ambulances. At the scene of an accident, sensors mounted on the sleeve unit check the patientspulse, temperature, blood pressure and other vital indicators.

The computer recommends treatment, or if it cannot diagnose the problem, the hospital can be contacted on a mobile phone. This type of system is attractive because the injured often die while stuck in Tokyos traffic jams en route to hospital. Liquid crystal displays will continue to get bigger and better for the foreseeable future, according to the president of Sharp, which is the worlds largest maker of colour LCDs. On a visit to London last week he said the displays would continue to improve as long as electronic chips improve, because they are made by similar techniques.

He predicted that within three years most laptop computers would have colour LCDs screens because of better quality and better prices.

Ex. 1 Translate the words in parentheses and choose the correct words from the ones underlined.

1. (Aceste informatii) is/are not correct and this proves that your (cunostinte) on the matter is/are not enough.

2. In autumn people usually clean/cleans the dry (frunze) from their (acoperisuri) so they dont block the eaves.

She bought (doua paini) although she had decided she was too fat to eat (paine).

4. The (mobila) in her rooms is/are very old but although we gave her some (sfaturi) on how to redecorate her house she didnt accept it/them and said we spoke nonsense.

5. (Matematica) is/are her favourite subject but (aerobica) is/are her passion.

6. She was very untidy: her (pijama) was/were lying on the floor; the red and the blue (baticuri) was/were hanging from the (rafturi) while her black (pantalonul) was/were thrown on the back of a chair.

7. He had found a very interesting (specie) of plants while struggling with the (tantarii si mustele) in the forest.

Ex. 2 Put a/an, the or in the gaps below.

1. She refused to study __medicine and that is how she became __teacher.
2. They appointed him __manager of __company.
3. He became __financial manager of __enterprise.
4. Soon after __they set off and decided not to stop before __dark.
5. For more than a week we have been having __terrible weather.
6. Both __girls speak __French very well.
7. On __Saturdays we always get up later than usual.
8. After __ exams, he has fallen ill with __ measles and stayed in __bed for ten days.
9. I must go to __ bank before going to __ work.
10. Have you ever been to __USA?

Ex. 3 Choose the correct word from the ones underlined.

1. People who ask impossible/impossibly questions do not deserve an answer.
2. It was late/lately when he realized he had lost his ticket.
3. My sister draws real/really well, everybody praises her.
4. If you were held up in traffic, would you wait patient/patiently?
5. The car was slight/slightly damaged.
6. The show was wonderful/wonderfully organized and it was a real/really success.
7. When I saw him coming out of the room, I was sure/surely he had failed the exam.

Ex. 4 Ask questions to which the words in italics are the answers.

1. She has been practicing for two hours.
2. Dan has been involved with the training of the sixth graders for the forthcoming match.
3. I have to wake up at six because I am leaving at seven.
4. The mechanics have checked the wheels: it is ready to go.
5. I am writing a letter to Susan to break the news.
6. The children had been watching TV before they went to bed.

Ex. 5 Put the verbs in parentheses into the appropriate tense.

1. Yesterday it ----------(snow) a lot but I still ------------(not think) we can go skiing because now the weather -----------(change) and it (start) raining.
2. My parents -----------(move) into a new flat this month. When they ----------(move) I was not there to help them because my boss----------(ask) me to organize a workshop in London.
3. I -----------(meet) Dale tomorrow. You ----------(want) me to tell him about the car or you ------------(tell) him yourself?
4. I ---------(see) him yesterday. He --------(sit) alone, reading a paperback book which he ---------(thrust) guiltily into his pocket but not before I ----------(see) that it was my book.
5. No sooner she ----------(visit) him than she ------------(know) Robin------------(be) in trouble again.

Ex. 6 There are two mistakes in each of the following sentences. Find them and correct them.

1. He worked hardly and succeeded to finish just in time for the exhibition.
2. I am looking forward to go on the trip to the mountains he organizes in every summer.
3. We can give you useful advices on how to live healthier.
4. People should understand is our duty to make these news public.
5. He did everything bad and then laid in bed pretending he was very tired.
6. The money are on that shelf, where the children cannot rich it.
7. There were less people in the exhibition hall then we had expected.
8. It was to late to make reservations, so we tryed to contact the manager and explain the situation.
9. She is a quite girl, which never disturbs anyone.
10. Although you have written twice already, you did not told us how did you get there.
11. They flew by plain to Singapore and were showed the city by a friend.
12. I could not imagine nothing like that would happen to me untill I met her.
13. They stoped in front of the theatre and asked where was the railway station.
14. We invited everybody to take there seats and listen the speaker.
15. None of them had not been there before, so they were looking forward to get there.

Ex. 7 Rephrase the following sentences starting with the given word(s).

1. This will be their first performance in Italy. This will be the first time----- ----- ------
2. She stayed in the hotel the whole night and so did her sister. She did not------------
3. It was so cold that summer that we could not go to the beach. It-------
4. As we grow older, we become more understanding. The----------
5. How did you get to the conclusion that they were engaged? What-----------
6. He does not know the truth; that is why he behaves like that. If---------
7. Perhaps they had to wait for the others. They-----------
8. The sea is slowly eroding the beach in this area. The beach-----------
9. I did not know he was in town, so I did not invite him. If----------
10. You should be able to look after yourself at your age. It is time-----------

1. The sentences below have one or two mistakes each. Identify the mistake(s) and correct it/them.

1. I studyed Law and improved my knowledges in this field while doing a Master course abroad.
2. She tried hard to enhance the role she played in others lifes.
3. Then she tells them how their new house is and why havent they written until then.
4. As they belonged to the lower class, their ambition was to married in the hight classes.
5. You will have to answer to the questions and make sentences with this words.
6. Think at all the advantages such an offer can have.
7. Only later did they realised he had saved their lives.
8. Students dont have to come to class unprepaired for the lesson.
9. It has to be settled rules to be respected by all participants.
10. He said he will be back in time for the meeting, but he was late as usually.
11. These are all the money for the trip, so be carefull with your expenses.
12. Why nobody told me about the conference?
13. If I would have been there, he wouldnt behave like that.
14. Although there knowledge of German is good, they couldnt express themselfs fluently.

2. Rephrase the following sentences starting with the given words.

1. You cannot go into that exclusive club if you do not wear a shirt and a tie. Unless.

2. It would be wise for you to take a bigger car. You had..

3. She felt sick because she wasnt used to flying. If.

4. We took more food than we needed for a one-day outing. We..

5. She fully regretted her foolish behaviour. She wished..

6. Do you have any idea who has just called? He asked us.

7. The drive from the city to our country house takes two hours. It

8. It was such a stupid mistake that he couldnt get over it. It was so..

9. We must be told what your decision is tomorrow at the latest. We insist

10. My father is going to lend me his car for tonight. Im.

3. Change the following sentences to express an unreal situation referring to the present or future and an unreal situation referring to the past.

1. I wiil obtain the job if I want to.

2. If the Administration signs the papers, the builders will immediately start the construction of the new mall.

3. As I know you, you will never forgive him if he cheats on you.

4. If you buy some fruit, we will make some pie.

5. If I convince the manager, I may get the raise.

6. You must pay for the window if you break it.

7. If you are tolerant, they will also accept you.

8. The workers alone wont be able to conclude the deal if the manager doesnt arrive in time.

9. Will they believe me if I explain everything?

10. If we spend a few days in town, we will visit all our new friends.

4. Put the verbs in parentheses into the correct form.

1. She was tired in the evening. She ..all day. (iron)

2. They the decision, hadnt they? If they .it, they wouldnt have called me. (take, not take)

3. The children silently in their room when I last checked on them. (read)

4. She home when the police her and ..her papers and the car. (drive, stop, check)

5. Dont take their side! They.Thats why they dont know. (not listen)

5. Choose the appropriate tense underlined.

1. Hes been writing/wrote about Russia for several years but he never actually was /s been actually been there.

2. This place was/has been her home for so many years that she has probably forgotten/probably forgot the desolate suburb where she has been/was born.

3. When have they caught/did they catch the robbers? It has happened/happened just a few minutes ago.

4. Although I havent seen/didnt see a lion up to now, the films Kevin has made/made in the African jungle last year taught/have taught me a lot of things about their life.

5. I have waited/waited in front of the cinema till half past six. Then I have left/left.

1. One mistake in each sentence.

1. I know him for a long while. 2. It is the first time I am driving a car and I am very nervous. 3. I have received the invitation to their wedding before you told me about it. 4. Ive heard that you work in that bank for more than a year now. 5. Once youll see him, youll recognize him. 6. She told him to not be late again. 7. Im used to go to bed late, thats not a problem. 8. I dont know how did she do it, but she made me tell her everything. 9. She loves very much nature and goes on trips whenever she has got the time. 10. If you would see the show, Im sure you would like it as much as I do. 11. He was decided to succeed. 12. Listen, the telephone rings. That must be Julien. 13. Im writing this letter to you to complain about the trip to Niagara Falls which it was organized by your agency. 14. Its been a long time since weve last spoken on the phone.

2. Rephrase the following sentences starting with the given words.

1. This is the best chocolate I have ever eaten. Never

2. The water was too shallow for the ship to be launched there. The water..

3. The hurricane destroyed all the houses in the village. The villagers

4. Dont take him seriously, he loves making up stories. If..

5. If you work hard, youll make a lot of progress. The.

6. You look very well in that colour. That

7. We should start training right now if we want to win. We had..

8. Perhaps he lost the key and was unable to get in. he.

9. If you dont repair the roof, it will start leaking. Unless

10. It is impossible for him to have done that. He.

3. Fill in the spaces in the passive sentences below with the correct forms of the verb to be.

1. No traces of the lost plane found so far.

2. We ..invited? What did he tell you?

3. This law .passed with or without their approval.

4. Old trees stillfelled in this territory in spite of clear dispositions to stop the activity.

4. All the words in italics in the sentences below are adjectives. Add the correct preposition that is used with each of them.

1. They had lived in Africa for two years so they were accustomed .the heat.

2. Danny is so fond .his books he would never go on a trip without taking one.

3. The teacher is very pleased Ann, she has improved a lot lately.

4. She is so angry .her results, that you cant talk to her now.

5. I was surprised ..you lending him your favourite jumper.

6. Your second house was very different your first one.

7. To tell you the truth, I dont understand what exactly youre interested..

8. I had to leave the cake in the oven and run to the store when I realized we were short .sugar for the icing.

9. Tom was held responsible ..all their problems.

10. Are you at least aware ..all the trouble youve put them through?