The Dos and Don'ts of Interview Wear
When it comes to a job interview, the first impression you make is crucial.In research conducted by Classes and Careers involving over 2,000 hiring managers, 33% said they know if they’ll hire someone within the first 90 seconds of an interview. One simple way to make a positive impression from the get-go is wearing the right outfit, so keep reading for our dos and don’ts of interview wear!Do: tailor your outfit for the company/roleThe way you dress for the interview will depend on both the type of role you’re going for and the company you’re interviewing with.If you’re going for a professional role in an office environment, stick to business wear. However, if it’s for a role in a work environment with a less formal dress code, such as hospitality, retail, or trades, business casual will be suitable. Business casual is more flexible, but there’s a few basic rules you should follow: nice pants or a skirt, a nice practical shirt, and smart shoes.Do: wear appropriate footwearNo matter the role you’re interviewing for, leave the thongs and sneakers at home! For men, dress shoes or a smart pair of boots are the way to go. For women, a nice pair of shoes like loafers, heels or ballet flats are usually your best bet.Do: prepare beforehandYou should never leave it until the day of the interview to decide what you’re going to wear. Take the time a few days before (in case an item you want to wear needs a wash) to pick out an outfit.Don't: forget to iron!It’s one thing to have an outfit prepared for your interview, but always make sure you take that extra step and iron the night before if needed. If you’re rushing out the door on the day of the interview you may not get the time to do it, and crinkled clothing will make you look unprofessional.Don't: underdressIf you’re really not sure what to wear, remember that it’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed! As a general rule, clothing such as singlets and shorts are too casual and won’t be considered appropriate interview wearDon't: forget basic grooming beforehandWhile wearing the right outfit is important in making a great first impression, also be sure that you’ve done any necessary grooming beforehand. Make sure that your hair looks neat and tidy and wear some perfume or cologne (just be sure not to use too much)!For more tips, check out our infographic which cover 34 crucial tips for your next job interview.
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WorkPac's guide to nailing your next job interview
You’ve put together your resume, you’ve applied for the job, and now you have the interview! But how do you get that interview to score you a job offer? Keep reading for WorkPac’s guide on nailing your next job interview.Before the interviewMemorise the job descriptionThe job description tells you everything the employer wants and what the position requires, so the most important thing you can do before an interview is make sure you know the job description back to front. You should also be prepared to answer questions about how you’ll fulfil what they’re asking for with the role. For example, if they’re asking for someone who’s committed to safety, take the time before the interview to think of examples where you’ve demonstrated safe work practices. Being able to provide examples that demonstrate what the employer is looking for will help you stand out as a strong candidate.Do your researchShow that you’re passionate about getting the position by doing some research beforehand on the company you’re applying to work for. People want to hire someone who understands and cares about the company, so taking that extra time to do a bit of background research will send the right impression to a prospective employer.Show that you’re passionate about getting the position by doing some research beforehand on the company you’re applying to work for. People want to hire someone who understands and cares about the company, so taking that extra time to do a bit of background research will send the right impression to a prospective employer.Make sure you're preparedIn most cases you’ll need to bring and up to date resume along with you. The interviewer will also want you to bring any licenses/tickets/qualifications relevant to the role you’re applying for, so make sure you have all of this prepared in advance. Also spend some time the night before getting an outfit prepared so that you’re not rushing around in the morning trying to put something together. If you’re not sure what to wear, smart casual is usually the best way to go. Also plan out a travel route to the interview the night before and allow yourself some extra time just in case.During the interviewWatch your body languageBody language really affects how people form their first impressions of you, so make sure their impression is positive. Maintain a good posture from when you walk in the room to when you sit down, being sure to never slouch or slump. When you first meet the interviewer/s, give them a firm handshake and a smile, and be sure to make eye contact. You should also keep making eye contact throughout the interview and avoid looking down at the ground, as this will make you look timid - just don’t go overboard and stare at the interviewer the whole time!A lot of us also have little ticks and habits we fall into doing when we’re nervous, which can make you come across as restless, bored or anxious. If you have some of these habits, such as fidgeting with your hands, playing with your hair, or tapping your foot, just stay aware of them so you can catch yourself early.Be confidentMany people are scared to come across as confident in an interview in case it makes them look arrogant, but confidence is often the key to a great job interview. You don’t need to boast, but you should be able to speak about your skills, experience, and ability to succeed in the role with confidence.Always direct focus during the interview to your strengths rather than emphasising your weaknesses. Interviewers will often ask what you think those weaknesses are, so be sure to emphasise your willingness to learn and improve in any areas you’re not as confident in rather than talking yourself down. This will help you come across to the interviewer as confident and capable. If you’re looking for advice on how to kick off your job search or writing a resume that stands out, be sure to check out all the posts on our blog!
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Six Tips for How to Land a Job from Our Recruiter of the Year!
Are you looking to land a new role in 2019? We had a chat with Jennifer, WorkPac’s 2018 Recruitment Coordinator of the Year, about what helps someone stand out as a great candidate to a recruiter.In her last 4.5 years with WorkPac, Jennifer has placed people in roles in mining, civil, retail, white collar, admin and commercial. Beyond being a fantastic recruiter, her experience and knowledge of a variety of industries makes her the perfect person to give tips on putting together your resume and nailing the interview with your WorkPac recruitment coordinator. Here are Jennifer’s top six job tips:1. When it comes to your resume, keep it simple!The best resumes are ones that are super simple and easy to read. Or as Jennifer puts it: short, sharp and shiny! When talking about any tickets and licences, outline them in dot points instead of long paragraphs, as this is much easier for our recruiters to read and gives them the information they need quickly. You can learn more tips on writing your resume here.2. It’s not just where you worked, it’s what you did:When outlining your work history in your resume, Jennifer says to make sure you provide a brief description of your duties in your previous roles. It’s not enough to just say you worked as a labourer, recruiters need to know what you did as a labourer in that role – were you digging trenches, laying pipes, putting up temporary fencing? Knowing these details will help your recruitment coordinator work out what roles you can be matched to.3. Arrive to the interview preparedRecruiters want you to bring along a copy of your most recent resume and all your tickets and licences along to the interview. For clothing, stick to smart casual; you don’t need to wear a three-piece suit, but make sure you look presentable. You can read more tips on interview attire here.4. Be confidentDuring the interview, Jennifer believes it’s important that you can speak confidently about your skills and experience. It doesn’t matter if you’re more of a shy person, so long as you can clearly talk about your attitude, approach to safety and the roles you’ve worked. For more great advice for your interview, we’ve compiled 34 crucial tips here.5. Keep the conversation professional and positiveBe careful to not let the conversation steer negative; Jennifer says people will often talk about disagreements with previous workmates or speak poorly of former employers, which comes across as unprofessional. Even though our recruiters are very friendly and want you to feel comfortable speaking with them in your interview, you need to keep in mind that we’re your employer.6. Be specific about the type of work you’re looking forAs Jennifer explains, if we don’t know what kind of work you’re looking for, we won’t be able to find you work. People often say that they don’t mind the work they do, or they’ll do anything, as they think it increases the roles they can be put forward for. However, it does the complete opposite. Our recruiters want to know the specifics on what roles you can do and what roles you want to do. So before the interview, make sure you know what you want and can clearly tell us! If you can’t decide, check out our job vacancies to get an idea of what’s out there.
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4 steps to job interview success (and the one thing that could ruin it all)
Job hunting is almost never easy, but one of the most difficult aspects of this process can be the dreaded face to face interview.A job interview can be like the final hurdle in a 110 metre dash. You've done all the hard work, polished up your resume, and made all the right impressions. But now that you have your foot in the door, it's more important than ever not to trip up.With that in mind, here are four secrets to mastering the job interview - whether you're applying for key management positions or entry level factory jobs, these tips will help you dazzle your employer and maximise your chance of success.1. Have specific examples preparedBefore you arrive at the interview, make sure you have done your homework. Read the job listing carefully and pinpoint the key characteristics your employer is looking for. Use this knowledge to put together some examples from your past experiences that show you are a good fit for the job. Employers love facts, so any hard statistics or detailed anecdotes you can provide will be an asset.2. Be active and ask questionsInterviews are a two way street. Don't just sit there twiddling your thumbs and answering questions, try to get involved and engage with the interviewer. Ask questions about the position and company, and show you've done your research. This will demonstrate your commitment to the role. Feel free to prepare a list of questions beforehand, as it's OK to refer to notes in your interview.3. Don't take anything for grantedToo often, job applicants jump ahead of themselves and start asking inappropriate questions before the interview has even wrapped up. Try to leave questions about salary and start dates until after you've been offered the position, unless you think there is something your potential employer needs to know.4. Follow upAlways follow up your interview with an email note to the company. Make sure you express your appreciation for the opportunity. Follow up emails are also a good way to address any concerns you might have had or ask any questions you forgot to bring up. Keep things appropriate and use the right medium - a txt message reading "Thnx for the chance! Hope I get da job" is a sure fire way to put yourself out of the running.BIGGEST MISTAKE TO AVOID AT ALL COSTSYou've read this far and now you want to know - what is the one mistake that can cost you your dream job?The biggest mistake that people undergoing job interviews make…is losing confidence in themselves. You have to believe in yourself if you're going to win over employers and convince them of your abilities. So regardless of how poorly your past interviews have gone, remember that your dream job is just one great interview away.
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