Waiting for Your Interview - Be Carefull!

By JG Côté

When waiting for your interview, it is the best time to leave an initial impression, good or bad.  This is a period of time when you do not want to draw attention to yourself.  You have had plenty of time to promote yourself when applying, and you will have more time once you are in the interview room.  For now just lay low and wait quietly until you are asked to begin the interview.

I had a teacher tell me once that, “walls have eyes and ears, and never say or do something you wouldn’t want anybody to see or hear”.  This was a great lesson in life, because I know of numerous people who have lost job and employment opportunities because of something they’ve said or done just before or after an interview.  I even know of companies that purposely make the interview candidates wait for a prolonged period of time (sometimes upward of an hour) just to see how they handle the stress.  Some people calmly sit and wait (which is what you should do), others fidget and flop around, while still others leave the waiting area to have a cigarette.  This you should never do!  Never leave the waiting area unless you absolutely have to (i.e., an emergency).  Getting up to go for a cigarette is an especially bad idea, and could leave a disastrous impression.  Some companies actually want to see if the candidate leaves to have a cigarette (not that they’d ever admit to it). 

As well, ALWAYS be nice to the secretary or receptionist (even if she/he isn’t nice to you).  The receptionist is usually the first and last person you see during the interview process, and they can be your best friend or worst enemy.  Make them a friend, not a foe in the sort time you interact with them.  It would be terrible to lose a job opportunity just because you were inappropriate with him or her.

Courtesy of: The Job Helper