So, you’re in the market for a new j-o-b. Your resume is updated (thank God for adjustable margins — it fits on one page!), the directions to the interview are printed, and you’ve Google-imaged the perfect hairstyle and practiced it three times.

We all know that interviews are where we need to put our best stiletto forward. But sometimes, even when we think we have it in the bag, there’s a slip-up we don’t see coming. May we let Rachel Berry’s disastrous NYADA audition on Glee be a lesson to us all: there’s no such thing as a shoo-in!

So to help you climb to the next rung on the employment ladder, we called upon Nicole Crimaldi of MsCareerGirl.com, a career and advice blog written for ambitious young professional women. 

Here are Nicole’s tips on what not to say in an interview:

• Never talk badly about your previous employer, boss or co-workers, no matter how bad the situation was. “It’s tacky, it’s classless, and it’s better left to be discussed behind closed doors with your girlfriends over wine,” Nicole said. “It also opens the door for a lot of red flags.”
• Never talk about partying, no matter how laid back the interviewer or corporate culture seems to be. “An interview is not the time or place to discuss what you did last night, your weekend partying, or your hangover. Swear words aren’t cool either. Not at the interview at least.”
• When asked the “what’s your weakness?” question, don’t say that you work too hard or that you’re a “people person.” Nicole said, “Both responses are so cliché…By responding with a cliché weakness, it makes me feel you haven’t thought much about this interview, this job description or how you fit into the role.”

Of course, figuring out what to wear to an interview makes the stress of finding an Oscar dress look like a walk in the park.

Here are Nicole’s failproof tips for a five-star interview appearance:

Wear some makeup. Yes, even if you don’t usually wear it.

If you’re going to wear nail polish, make sure it isn’t chipping.

Make sure you have a mint before you go into the interview. Bad breath could be a killer.

If you have even a fleeting thought about your outfit being too low cut, flashy, or leggy, then change.

If you fiddle with your hair when you are nervous, consider wearing your hair back. Candidates who twist their hair non-stop during an interview can be extremely distracting and appear weak or fidgety!

A blazer or suit jacket is always appropriate for an interview, no matter how casual the office. Wear something that makes you feel confident and worthy — good feelings to bring to an interview!

Find out what the dress code of the company is and then dress a level above it. Even if a staff wears jeans, Nicole said that this is a big no-no in an interview.

And one last tip: “I used to end all of my job interviews by asking if the interviewer felt I’d be a good fit for the position or if they have any reservations about me as a candidate. If they do have reservations, I ask if I can address their concerns before leaving.…Beware: it will catch some interviewers off guard. That’s OK. Asking if you’re a good fit almost persuades the interviewer into selling themselves on you. If they don’t have anything bad to say, why wouldn’t they hire you? If they do have reservations, you can clear them up immediately before they brew into larger concerns for the hiring staff.”

With these tips, you’ll be sure to knock ’em dead!

xx, The FabFitFun Team

Posted on June 19, 2012