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To help you make the right first impression, beauty expert Debbie Black (née Selikman) from beautyheaven.com.au shares her top tips and tricks to help you look cool, calm and capable in your next job interview.
As many people add a new job to their list of resolutions and the HR department returns to work with plans for the year ahead, February has become the best time for anyone looking for a new job. But while your CV might be up to date and you’ve connected with everyone and their assistant on LinkedIn, the way you present yourself in a job interview can say a lot about whether you’re the right person for the job.
1) Be proactive: if you’ve been meaning to dye your hair or if your eyebrows are looking a bit worse for wear, book yourself in for an appointment (or put aside some time at home) as soon as possible! If you know you’re going to be going to lots of job interviews, making the time for these things will help you feel more put together.
2) Less is always more: too much make-up can look unnatural and unflattering – especially during the daytime or if you have maturing skin. Stay away from a smoky eye (try curling your lashes and applying a lengthening mascara to accentuate your eyes instead), and keep your foundation application light as this will help you look more fresh-faced and youthful. Also take care to blend your foundation into your hairline and down your neck to make it look as natural as possible.
3) Opt for more subtle colours: different workplaces have different rules about what’s deemed appropriate in terms of make-up. If you usually like to sport a bright pop of colour in your make-up look, take it down a notch for your interview or until you know what’s deemed appropriate for that particular workplace.
4) Groom your nails: chipped polish and unkempt nails have the unfortunate effect of making you look untidy and disorganised – even if you’re anything but. If your manicure is looking a bit worse-for-wear either get it re-done, or – if you’re short on time – simply remove your polish completely, file your nails and leave them au naturale.
5) Keep it simple: freshly washed, neat hair is a must as, just like your nails, dirty or unruly hair can give the impression of laziness and disorganisation. When it comes to styling, keep it neat, simple and preferably away from your face so that it doesn’t distract you or your interviewer.
6) Choose a subtle scent: a strong, heady scent might be great for a night out, but it can quickly become too intense in a one-on-one interview situation. The aim is for a pleasant but not overpowering smell, so choose a light scent and spritz it sparingly, or alternatively just use a fragranced body cream.
7) Deo for your B.O.: there’s nothing worse than body odour, so if you’re prone to sweating when you get nervous be sure to apply a long-lasting clinical deodorant before your interview to keep any nervous sweats in check.
8) Plan ahead: lay out your outfit the night before, making sure it is clean, pressed and appropriate for the company you are interviewing with – consider the whole look, including your hair, nails, accessories and shoes, and remember it is better to be overdressed than underdressed!
9) Take a minute: set aside more time in the morning to make sure you’re happy with your hair and make-up and haven’t missed any crucial preparation before you leave the house. It’s easy to forget something when your mind is on more important matters, which could leave you feeling frazzled before your big meeting.
10) Bring a beauty bag: pack a bag of essentials the night before your interview. Include things like mints, bobby pins and concealer so you can freshen up before your interview.
Lastly, take a few deep breaths and try not to stress. A job interview is ultimately to find out whether you’re the right person for the job – but a killer mani can’t hurt right?
Beautyheaven.com.au is Australia’s number one social beauty network, featuring the very best mix of product reviews, news, tips and advice.