Perhaps you have been working with excellent staffing agencies in Houston like Clayton Services and are interviewing for the employment opportunity of your dreams or maybe your Houston recruiters have helped you land a job! No matter what your situation is, there will be several things that you will need to do to ensure that you are prepared and ready to go. One of the most important of these will be choosing appropriate work attire.
When staffing agencies in Houston match you with an interview or position, they will most likely give you advice on what the expected dress code will be. Typically, those will fall under the category of business casual or business professional. Now, you may be thinking that these sound the same, but they are not. Today we are going to help you understand the distinction between these two fashion categories so that you do not have an awkward moment of showing up underdressed or overdressed. Let’s take a moment to break this down a bit further: Women's Business Professional Although it may feel daunting if you are not typically a “dressy” person, we can make business professional simple. In general terms, if you are asked to dress in this manner, you will want to choose matching pants or skirt suit in dark colors. Any patterns should be subtle, and the blazer sleeves should be long. In addition, you will want to wear a formal blouse underneath and be modest. You can finish this look with a low, closed-toe heel. Tasteful and simple gold or silver jewelry always pairs well with this look. Women's Business Casual Staffing agencies in Houston and their best Houston recruiters will tell you that women’s business casual attire provides more options than the more strict category of business professional wear. Conservative shirts and blouses, along with regular or cardigan sweaters are appropriate within this category. When it comes to pants and skirts, twill and cotton options are great choices. These items should be properly fitted without being tight and skirts should be fingertip length or longer. Dressy boots and low heels that are closed or peep-toed are good footwear choices. If you decide to wear jewelry, it should coordinate with your outfit and not be distracting. Men's Business Professional There are few things that make for a sharp dressed man better than a well-tailored suit. If your employment situation calls for business professional wear, it is time to break out such a suit and be ready to impress. A proper business professional suit should be correctly fitted and in a darker hue, such as black, navy, or charcoal. They should be paired with a solid, button-down, long-sleeved dress shirt and conservative tie. Tie patterns should be kept subtle and coordinating to the suit and shirt. Understated matching dress socks in a dark color should be worn with black or brown dress shoes. A gold or silver watch and tie clip can finish off this look well. Men's Business Casual A work environment with a business casual dress code will open up your fashion choices, and allow you to select a wardrobe that has more variety. You will be properly dressed in this situation by choosing khaki or dark pants with a brown or black leather belt. Long-sleeved dress shirts in cotton, or in some cases even collared polo shirts are a suitable choice. No matter what shirt selection you choose, they should be tucked in. If you go with a dress shirt, a coordinating tie, sweater, vest, or sport coat can make an excellent pairing. Finish off your ensemble with matching dress socks and brown or black dress shoes, and you will be ready to go. In the end, much of what you are going to be wearing will be dependent on the specific situation you will be going into, but you will also want to consider the following, regardless of the outfit, you will want to have styled hair and clean manicured nails. Also, you should smell fresh, but not overdo it on colognes and perfumes. Finally, make sure that your teeth are freshly brushed and free of food particles. When you keep all of these things in mind, staffing agencies in Houston, like Clayton Services, agree that you will be dressed for success! We look forward to working with you to match you with the perfect employer who will help you reach the career goals you have set.
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The way of the world today has transformed interviews, possibly forever. If you’ve been searching for a new job anytime recently, no doubt that you’ve noticed that interviews are being conducted virtually. Which, for obvious reasons, makes complete sense. The way that technology has advanced over the past years with internet speeds and more, it all just kind of came together at the perfect time.
It doesn’t matter if you’re dealing with recruiters in Houston or only just applying for a position at a new company. You’re going to have to do a video interview. Whether it’s on Microsoft Teams, Skype, Zoom, or through Google, you’ll be able to get the face-to-face aspect of the job search experience. The thing about today’s job search experience is that you want to ensure you’re fully prepared for your own video interview. Don’t be one of those applicants that approach the whole video interview casually. This will pretty much guarantee you don’t get the job. What are some things that you can do to prepare yourself for a video interview and stand out among the other applicants as the best candidate for the position? Today, we want to discuss exactly how you can successfully prepare for your video interview with some tips that will ensure that you stand out and feel good about your next virtual interview. 1. Be Prepared This sounds obvious, doesn’t it? But it’s essential to be sure that you’re choosing the right place in your home to do the video interview. Be sure that you can control the environment, which means don’t attempt to do your interview outside. The last thing you want is for your neighbor to turn on their lawnmower in the middle of you talking. Some things to keep in mind: Lighting:
Camera:
Keep your space clean:
2. Practice Take the time to practice your interview with a friend or family member before doing the actual virtual interview. If you’re working with recruiters in Houston, they’ll be able to do a run-through with you. When you do the practice interview, be sure to check your lighting and camera levels. Also, run a test of your audio and video using your internet connection. Can the person hear and see you clearly and without skipping or interruptions? Don’t forget to dress the same as you would if you were going into an office to do your interview. Dress well and prepare yourself even in this practice run. 3. Frame Your Shot Perfectly This step is one of the most important, really. Doesn’t matter if you’re working with a staffing agency Houston or headhunters Houston; you want to be sure to frame your shot to emulate an in-person interview as closely as you can. How? Keep your shoulders and head visible the entire time. Look like you’re sitting up straight because you will be, but also be sure to do it. Leave some headroom above your head in the frame; figure about 10-20% as a fair amount to leave open. This will make you not look tiny while also giving you room for in interview seating adjustments. Keep your background clean and straightforward. Best to use a solid-colored wall, so you’re not clashing with what you’re wearing. Or worse, distractions that take away from the focus being on you. Use headphones to prevent weird noises or the inability to hear you clearly. If your headphones have a microphone, be sure it doesn’t rub up against your shirt as you talk. Don’t use over the ear headphones though, these can give the wrong impression. Keep your body language straight and upright while being sure to smile and be present the entire time. These are some really great ways to help ensure you have a successful virtual interview process. Keep them in mind when you’re preparing for your next interivew. Okay, you just scored an interview! Now you have to prepare for your big day. Clayton Services, the leading recruiters in Houston, know a thing or two about interviewing. For 35 years, we have met with thousands of job seekers. Literally, thousands!
To help with interview preparation, we have come up with a list of five things to avoid doing during an interview. Avoiding these five simple things can make a huge difference in the success of your next interview! 1. Don't Be Late! First things first, don't ever be late to an interview. Ever! This may sound like an easy one, but this can make or break your first impression on a potential employer. There aren't many (if any) excuses that can make up for being late to an interview so try your best to avoid being late. A good rule of thumb is to allow for a minimum of 30 extra minutes when traveling to interview. Always plan for the unexpected! If you're too early you can wait in the parking lot until it's time to go in the building. Being too early is way better than being too late. 1a. Never Reschedule An Interview This may also sound like an easy one. However, believe or not this does happen quite often. Way too often! If you really want to land a particular job, never reschedule an interview unless you have an actual emergency. Otherwise, do your absolute best to make it to your interview at the originally scheduled day and time. Don't make it easy for a potential employer to scratch you off the list of candidates. In today's market, there is no shortage of candidates so don't eliminate yourself before you even get an opportunity to interview! 2. Bad Eye Contact Avoiding eye contact or gazing into space is a no-no during an interview! Maintaining good eye contact with the interviewer is vital. Poor eye contact gives off the impression of being untrustworthy and insecure. Good eye contact gives off the impression of confidence. Confidence can help propel you to the finish line during a stressful interview. Confidence helps with self doubt and nervousness. During an interview confidence is king! You need all of it that you can get. 3. Poor Posture and Body Language Did you know that your body language can actually shape who you are and what others think of you? During an interview be sure to sit up straight in your chair and make sure you're directly facing the interviewer. Don't slouch or lean back too far in your chair. If your posture 'feels casual' it is likely too casual! Your body language can tell a story about the kind of person you are. Make sure it's telling a positive story! 4. Talking Too Much There's a difference between answering questions and saying too much during an interview. Make sure you elaborate with your answers but don't go overboard. You never want to get too comfortable in an interview and talk like you're in a social setting. Try to avoid talking about personal aspects of your life, family, or friends during an interview. No matter how well of a repoire you think you've built with your interviewer, never use slang or foul language. When in doubt always keep it 100% professional during an interview. There's a difference between thoroughly answering questions and talking yourself out of a job. Don't talk yourself out of a job because you've said too much. Remember, this is an interview and sometimes less is more! 5. Not Following Up This may be the easiest thing to do to increase your chances of landing a job. Surprisingly very few candidates actually take the time to do this nowadays. Following up with the interviewer and thanking them for their time can be the difference in landing you a job or not. Most job seekers simply brush this off and overlook it. Following up via email is nice. An old-fashioned handwritten thank you note is even better. Way better. If you really want to stand out you should take the time to handwrite a thank you note and drop it in the mail. Mail in most major cities gets delivered in one business day so get that thank you note in the mailbox right after your interview. It doesn't have to be long either. Short and sweet is the way to go. Check out a sample thank you note below: Dear (Interviewer First Name), Thank you for your time today. I enjoyed speaking with you and learning about your company. I remain extremely interested in this opportunity and am looking forward to hearing about the next steps. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have any additional questions. Thank you, Candidate First and Last Name 5a. Not Silencing Your Mobile Devices Another often overlooked and simple mistake to avoid. Double and triple-check that your mobile devices are on silent before you go into an interview. To be absolutely certain they won't ring or vibrate you can even power them completely off. The last thing you want to happen is be mid-sentence explaining 'how you're the person for the job' and then suddenly your phone rings. You don't want to be that person. Don't overlook the small stuff! Searching for a job opportunity in Houston? Since 1984, Clayton Services has been the leading Houston recruiters. Clayton Services helps connect talented job seekers with some of Houston's leading companies. If you're searching for a job opportunity in the Houston area, contact our Houston recruiters today! |