Professionalism: It's NOT the job you DO, It's HOW you DO the job.”
We can all recall when we attend a comedy show and the next day we try to tell our friends one of the jokes that was told on the night - it just doesn’t seem to have the same impact.
We have all been there. Leave comedy to the professionals.
Being professional is very important at interviews. When we are nervous, we try to be funny and this can come across as inappropriate and unprofessional.
Don’t leave your personality at the door, you don’t have to be frosty. But always keep an air of professionalism about you at interview. You can come across as a warm, enthusiastic individual while keeping professional.
We are continually being assessed for the position on offer and this illustrates that we are ‘serious’ about the job in hand. We all prefer to deal with a professional, enthusiastic person whether it’s shopping for a TV or talking to our accountant. An interview is no different.
What does being professional mean?
1.Your initial phone conversation with the interviewer has an impact. Be professional and eager here. Be clear and eager and thank the interviewer for his/her call. Sounding groggy and too casual sets off alarm bells in the interviewer’s ears.
2.Arrive on time, leaving you enough time to be organised and ready.
3.Looking professional – formal attire. Looking professional enables us to act so.
4.Coming prepared – folder and CV in hand.
5.Be courteous and have good manners.
6.Having done your research on the company, their competitors and any recent developments.
7.Using professional words such as hardworking, goal-oriented, dependable, motivated, team player, flexible and proficient.
If you are very nervous before the interview, try to envisage yourself as a different person. Jack Canfield in his book ‘The Success Principles’ described an exercise where people attending a party had to pretend that they were multi-millionaires for the evening. They not only altered the way that they spoke, they used confident body language and presented themselves in a completely different way. If you present yourself as a professional, you will act as one.
Some interviews can be more like chats, especially in smaller companies where your future employer is interviewing you or in scenarios where the interviewer is very friendly. This is not an invitation to tell them how you felt that morning before the interview or how you ‘really feel about the job’. Remember that at all times, from the initial conversation on the phone getting directions to your final parting moments, you need to stay professional and alert.
If you want to advance, be taken seriously, and have your potential employer think of you as an asset to the team, doing things in a proficient way is vital.
Acting like a professional really means doing what it takes to make others think of you as reliable, respectful, and competent. Remember that ‘people buy people’ and what you project to the interviewer on the day of the interview can have a powerful effect on the deciding result. Give yourself a fighting chance at interview and be a professional. This is not only important at interview; it is equally as important in your day to day job.
Sli Nua Careers (tel 094 95 42965, www.SliNuaCareers.com ) are based on Main Street, Headford, Co Galway, and carries out CV Preparation, Interview Training, and Personal Branding. Sli Nua Careers offer readers a Free CV Critique – just email your CV to [email protected]. For your free e-book on interview & CV tips, email [email protected].
