Networking and Informational Interviews

Contents:
Uncover the Hidden Job Market Create a Networking Strategy Plan Your Networking Meeting Explore Other Networking Opportunities What Is An Informational Interview? Prepare for Your Informational Interviews Sample Phone Script For Setting Up An Informational Interview Follow-up After the Informational Interviews Ask Good Questions During An Informational Interview

Prepared by the Weston Career Center Olin Business School Washington University in St. Louis

Uncover the Hidden Job Market

Networking is the best way to tap into the hidden job market - an immense underground marketplace in which jobs open up and are filled through word-of-mouth and personal referrals. More than 70% of the people who succeed in landing a job do so through networking. Whether youre entering the workforce for the first time or switching jobs mid-career, cultivating a network of contacts will yield benefits throughout your career and your career changes. In fact, the average person will change jobs seven to ten times in a lifetime, a number that has increased in recent decades. Expand Your Options Skillful networking reveals positions that have not yet been posted or that will never be advertised. Networking can get your foot in the door before a position is available. When the job opens up, if youve established a relationship with the hiring manager, he or she will remember you before pondering the heap of faceless rsums that comes from Human Resources. Cultivate Contacts Networking involves gathering a list of contacts that might be able to help you with your job-hunting process. Networking begins with the people you already know and expands into an interrelated web of contacts by means of introduction to others. Through networking, you can: Get your message out and publicize your availability. Gather marketplace information and industry trends. Accumulate information on target organizations. Get advice and ideas. Locate sponsors, mentors, and job leads. Generate referrals that further build your network. Develop life-long contacts that may help you later. An important distinction exists between two different types of networking: The first is the type of networking that focuses on finding a specific hidden job. The second of informational interviewing, is an approach that emphasizes learning more about a career. In the former, you are publicizing your availability and seeking potential job leads. In the latter, you are not looking for a specific job, you are gathering information and advice to screen for potential careers and jobs before you decide to pursue them. We will review both of these vital tools in your job search strategy.

Create a Networking Strategy

Networking is one of the most misunderstood dimensions of the job search process. Networking seems to come naturally to some people, but many job seekers are unsure about the process. This handout provides tips for getting you started with effective networking. Build Your Contact List First, make a list of people you know, but not just people in the specific career field in which you are interested. Include them regardless of what they do or where they work. Dont exclude people just because you cannot see how they might be able to further your career objectives. Be open to all possibilities at this stage. Include: Former high school and college classmates Professors People from your family telephone directory - friends, relatives, doctors, dentists, insurance agents, accountants, your childrens soccer coaches Names in the rosters of organizations you belong to - alumni associations, fraternal groups, social clubs, athletic clubs, religious organizations, and neighborhood associations Start with people you know because common interests form the basis of connecting with people. Whether you share hobbies, ethnic or religious background, school attachments, or neighborhood concerns, these common interests motivate people to be willing to talk with you. Also, people who have feelings for you, or for members of your family, want to see you succeed. Once you start contacting the people on your list, many will introduce you or refer you to other people. Your contact list will grow. Prioritize Rank the people on your list according to how comfortable you feel contacting them. At the top, put the person you feel most comfortable speaking with, then the person you feel next most comfortable speaking with, etc. Continue prioritizing until you reach the point where you would feel a bit awkward contacting that person. Draw a line. Then continue to add names below the line until you have added everyone you can think of. If you remember more names later, insert them in the appropriate place on your list. Suppose you have 30 names on your list and the line appears after number 12. The first 12 are people you know you can call and ask for a meeting with little discomfort. Youll approach the other 18 differently.

Overcome Your Fears Try not to be intimidated by the process. Most people enjoy and are even flattered by an opportunity to help. To a great extent, you will be networking with people you know or people with whom you have something in common. If you ask a friend or acquaintance to help you or give you some information, most will gladly comply if they can. Others have helped them in the past in their own job search process. When you contact people for information, they usually appreciate help theyve received from others and recognize that it is their turn to help someone else. This principle holds true even when the economy is sluggish, and the job market is depressed. Develop Your Positioning Statement Youll want to introduce yourself to everyone you meet. Dont memorize your introduction or positioning statement. You dont want to sound like a robot. Instead, keep your introduction conversational in tone and draw from your education, experience, skills, achievements, and career goals. Above all, you should tell an interesting story about who you are. Include any of the following items that present you in a positive light: Undergraduate Education School, degree earned, extracurricular activities, scholarships, awards
Previous Work Experience Number of years of experience in an industry or professional field Brief summary of two or three significant accomplishments, or contributions that relate to your future career goals and objectives Special projects, unique training, or international work assignments

Interests TM If you have completed CareerLeader , use your results to talk about your interests, (i.e., Managing People and Relationships, Quantitative Analysis, Counseling and Mentoring).
Use examples of how these interests have been used in your academic, professional, or extracurricular activities, and how they relate to your future career goals and objectives.

Skills TM If you have completed CareerLeader , use your results to talk about your key skills (i.e., Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, and Managing People).
Use examples of how these skills have been used in your academic, professional or extracurricular activities, and how they relate to your future career goals and objectives. Talk about your unique skills. This could include language, technical skills, special or unique training, travel, or interesting hobbies.

Future Career Goals and Objectives Talk about your future career goals and objectives. This could include industry interests, career fields of interest, skills you bring to a new position/company, or contributions you hope to make. Positioning Statement Example My name is John Smith, and Im a first-year MBA student at the Olin Business School. I earned my bachelors degree in business administration at Emory University. As captain of my soccer team, I developed skills in leading and motivating my team to earn a spot in the regional championships my senior year. I have worked for the past four years in change management with a large consulting firm where I worked with a variety of international clients. I led teams of up to ten people on projects ranging from six weeks to six months. We consistently completed our projects within budget and with superior client satisfaction ratings. I am very interested in international business development and with the opportunities your company may have. Could you tell me a little more about business development and how it fits with your companys future objectives? Make Your First Contacts Build confidence by first calling the people at the top of your list - the ones with whom you feel comfortable. As you progress down the list, you will reach the line that separates those you feel comfortable contacting from those you dont know as well. At this point, try a different approach. Initiate contact by writing a short letter or email to introduce (or reintroduce) yourself. Explain your purpose for wanting to meet briefly and close by saying you will call to set up an appointment. When you call to follow up, your call will be expected, and the other person will be more likely to remember who you are. Write a script for your call beforehand, if it makes you feel more comfortable. Avoid talking business in your initial phone call. If possible, save it for the meeting. Begin with an exchange of pleasantries; follow with a brief statement of why you want to meet.

Plan Your Networking Meeting

Decide When to Meet If youre still employed, consider breakfast, lunch, after work, or on weekends. With friends and relatives, evenings and weekends may work best. With business contacts, take advantage of normal workday breaks. If youre not employed and not a full-time student, you should be available to meet at any time when your contact is available. Many people in management positions can find time during their workday to meet with you. Decide Where to Meet Whenever possible, meet your contacts at their places of business. The advantages are: Youll get a feeling for the work environment. 5

Your contacts will likely feel more relaxed on their own turf. Your contacts will not have to travel to meet with you, and you are more likely to get more of their time. You may be introduced to your contacts colleagues who work down the hall. Your contacts are more likely to have their contact databases at hand in their offices, increasing the likelihood that some of those important contacts will be given to you.

Inviting your contacts to meet over lunch can get expensive. When you are job hunting, your contacts often will offer to pick up the tab. When you are the one who does the inviting, however, business etiquette dictates that you pay. An alternative is to invite your contacts to meet over a cup of coffee. If they invite you to lunch, you can say that youd like to have a chance to see their office or plant, and youd be glad to take a rain check for lunch. Once you are employed, consider taking them to lunch as a way of thanking them and maintaining the contact. Have an Agenda Networking is not just idle chitchat. If you dont know exactly what youre meeting about, you risk alienating your contact. You asked for the meeting, so you must have an agenda of comments and questions to direct the conversation. Help the other person help you by gently steering the meeting in the direction of your objectives. Know Your Networking Objectives Your objectives in networking generally will be to publicize your availability, to get advice and information about trends in your industry of interest, and to get potential job leads. Build Rapport First make an effort to get to know new contacts and give them an opportunity to get to know you. People help other people whom they like and trust, people who belong to a group they belong to, or people with whom they feel some connection. Take advantage of whatever you have in common with each other. The time needed to build rapport varies according to the people and the circumstances. If you meet someone randomly at a conference cocktail hour, the rapport-building phase usually happens quickly before any points of substance are discussed or cards are exchanged. If youre developing a long-term relationship, take more time to establish your connection with them. In the U.S., we tend to skip over the rapport-building phase rather quickly, compared to people from other cultures. If you are meeting with someone from an Asian or Latin American country, for example, they may be accustomed to taking more time to establish a relationship before getting down to business or providing assistance. Most people will sense, consciously or unconsciously, the attitude with which you approach them. If you approach networking as a way of building and maintaining 6

relationships for their own sake, people will feel good about you and will be eager to help you any way they can. Find Out About Them People enjoy talking about themselves and their work. Ask questions that elicit information about how they got into their line of work, how their business is doing now, how they like their work, and how they see you potentially fitting into their industry or a workplace similar to their own. Tell Accomplishment Stories Present the information you share with others in short, interesting stories about your accomplishments, both in and out of the workplace. Practice telling your stories. Use the S-A-R model: Describe the situation, the action you took, and the result. Avoid dominating the conversation; try for a comfortable balance between speaking about yourself and letting the other person speak. Prepare Questions in Advance Your questions should accomplish two purposes: obtaining information that will be helpful to you, and demonstrating that you are well-informed about their industry or company. Gather Names Gather names of other people you can talk to that will broaden the scope of your research. Many of your contacts will introduce you or refer you to other people. Add these names to your master contact list. Follow up on these new contacts, as appropriate. Respect Their Time Be on time. Dont stay longer than the amount of time you requested and agreed on for the meeting. This respect for the other persons time is a fundamental principle of business etiquette. Dont Put Your Contact on the Spot Networking etiquette requires that you not put people on the spot by asking them directly for a job. Tell everyone that youre engaged in the job-search process, but ask no one directly for a job. You are letting them know that you are available, gathering information, and seeking suggestions for other contacts that might help with your jobsearch process. If you ask your contact directly for a job, you risk making the other person feel awkward or guilty. After that, the person may avoid contact with you. Be a Pro Dress professionally. Relax and be yourself. Afterwards, send a thank you note within 24 hours.

Explore Other Networking Opportunities

To build your network, youll also want to attend or participate in meetings, clubs, associations, conventions, trade shows, social gatherings, and other professional events. Meetings Focus on meetings and events in your chosen field, which are often attended by precisely the people with whom you most want to connect. Speak to people at these meetings. After brief conversations, exchange business cards. People you meet may suggest names of other people for you to contact. Clubs Olins many career-related student clubs afford excellent networking opportunities because you can associate with students with similar interests and build your personal network of contacts. Company representatives, recruiters, and industry experts sometimes attend club activities. You have an opportunity to get to know them, and they have an opportunity to get to know you. A complete list of career-related student clubs is available through the Weston Career Center.

What is an Informational Interview?

Weve been describing the kind of networking that occurs after you know what career field you are interested in, and after you know what kind of position you are interested in. In your networking meetings, you are seeking information and job leads. Your aim is clear - to find a specific job. A completely different kind of meeting occurs before you know what career field or job you are interested in. This kind of meeting is called an informational interview, a term coined by Richard Bolles, author of What Color Is Your Parachute? Bolles distinguishes informational interviewing from networking. Informational interviewing is a process you engage in for the purpose of testing or screening a career before you switch to that career, or to screen jobs before you take them. Bolles makes the point that many people screen jobs after they take them, when they really should be using this technique to screen them beforehand. Informational interviews provide information that helps you decide if a particular career is right for you, and, if it is, how you can prepare yourself to work in that field. If youve already made a tentative career choice, informational interviews can help you to learn how to get a job in that field and find out about the responsibilities, rewards, problems, and issues inherent in a specific career, possibly before making a long-term commitment of time or money to prepare for it. Informational interviewing is talking to people who do the kind of work that interests you. You are not talking primarily to people who have the power to hire you. When 8

youre conducting informational interviews, be clear about your motives. Scheduling an interview for information when you really want a job interview can sabotage the contacts trust in you. If your contact senses that your agenda is different than what you initially stated, he or she may feel deceived.

Prepare For Your Informational Interviews

The preparation process parallels the networking steps we outlined earlier. In this case, however, you are identifying people who are active and knowledgeable in the career field you are researching. To do that, ask all the people you know if they are acquainted with anyone in your field of interest who might be willing to talk to you. Then, ask if you can use their name as a reference when you contact that person. Do Background Work First, research the field, the person you will be interviewing, and the organization for which the person works. Next, prepare a list of questions you want to ask when you meet with these people. An informational interview is one of the few interviews in which you are in control of the questions asked. Your informational interview is a conversation. Dont simply read your list of questions as if it were a script. Use your list as an aid to tactfully help you keep the meeting focused on gaining the information you need. To get you started, weve included some sample questions at the end of this document, but you will want to develop your own questions based on your situation and goals. Practice Practice by interviewing people for information when you meet someone new or with your friends. You will find it easy and enjoyable. People generally like to talk about themselves and their work. A sample script that you can use to organize your thoughts before calling to set up an informational interview is below. Adapt it to your circumstances. Practice until: You are speaking naturally and clearly. Your voice reflects confidence. The impression you make is professional. You do not sound like you are reading a prepared script.

Sample Phone Script for Setting Up An Informational Interview

Hello (the other persons name). My name is (your full name). (The person who referred you) suggested that I call you because of your expertise (knowledge, background, experience) in the field of (occupation, trade, industry, profession, company) for information or advice about careers in your field. [If calling without a reference, state how you heard about this individual, e.g., I read about your work in I heard you speak at I know of your reputation through] I am interested in this field (as a possible career direction or whatever your reasons are). Ive read about it and discussed it with others, and I would like to know more. I would like to meet with you, at your convenience, for no more than 20 - 30 minutes, to ask you some questions. Could we arrange a time?

Set the Appointment Whenever possible, arrange a face-to-face interview. If that is not possible, you can conduct your informational interview by phone. Be friendly, sincere, courteous, and polite. When talking on the phone, avoid external distractions (e.g., gum chewing, calling from a cell phone with background noise from a radio or other conversations, etc.).

Follow Up After the Informational Interviews

At the end of the interview, ask for the names of other individuals who might give you different perspectives. Thank the person, then follow up with a thank you note within 24 hours of your meeting. In your note, you can refer to key points of your discussion or your plans to follow through on specific suggestions. Keep Records Of Your Discussions After each meeting, jot down some key points about your conversation. The next time you talk to that person, refer to your notes to refresh your memory. As you talk to more people, your meeting notes will serve as a source of ideas and additional questions. Keep Contact Information For the People You Meet Make contact approximately every month. Send them articles of interest and updates on your progress. Build the relationship you have started. You are developing a network that will benefit you throughout your career. With each interview you conduct, you will grow in comfort and confidence with the process. Even after you are employed, you should keep up the practice of meeting people and further develop the skills youve started to cultivate through your informational 10

interviewing. You never know when your network of contacts will prove useful. And remember, once you are employed, you will be called on from time to time to assist others who are seeking job-search information and assistance.

Ask Good Questions During an Informational Interview

Weve included some sample questions below to get you started, but you will want to develop your own questions based on your situation and goals.

Starting Out How would you advise someone to start building a career in your field? Where would you start? What steps should a person just starting out take? What experience will be expected? How can I get that experience? In what companies, departments, positions? What positions lead to dead ends? Did you participate in a formal training program? Where? What education or training is most valued? What is the necessary educational background for this field? What courses are particularly valuable? What areas of knowledge are most important for advancement in the field? What degrees? Certifications? What educational institutions would you suggest? How did you get your start? What were some of the most important factors contributing to your success? If you were starting out again, what would you do differently? The Job What is a typical workweek like for you? What do you actually do? What are some of the rewards of your occupation? Your field? What do you like most about your work? What are some of the difficulties, frustrations, and most frequently recurring problems? How flexible can you be in this field/position? Can you work at varied hours? Can you arrange your own hours? What latitude do you have to plan your own time? What are your major responsibilities in this job? What part do you play in deciding priorities?

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Ask Good Questions During An Information Interview, continued

Advancement What are some typical mistakes or errors that prevent a person from advancing in this field? From succeeding in this kind of work? What advice would you give a person wanting to advance in your field? Wanting to build a career? What is the range of income possible for people in this field? (By now you have researched comparative salaries on websites such as salary.com, however, it is useful to compare published salaries to what your contact knows.) What is the salary structure? What is the starting salary range? What is the range at different levels of advancement? What benefits do people in these positions earn? What is developing in this field (add some of your own insights from the research you have done)? Company? Industry? Where do you see the greatest needs? What are the most important areas in this field? The major problems? What are your projections for the future of the industry? What areas do you feel afford the greatest opportunity? The most growth? Where is expansion taking place? In what markets? With what products? Is there a deficit of qualified personnel in any part of this field? Where is the best place to look for jobs? Is most of the hiring here done on an external or internal basis? Special Interests Do many women/minorities work in this field? How effective are affirmative action programs in this field? Have you seen the ratios of women/minority managers change over the past few years? What advice you would give to a woman/minority job candidate in this field?

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BUSINESS

ETIQUETTE
5 Company relationships If you are selected for an interview,
be sure to choose a time slot sooner rather than later dont wait! Slots fill up quickly and you want to have a time that works best for you. Also, if the company is hosting a pre-night or information session, be sure to attend they will be looking for your participation.

MIND YOUR MANNERS!

irst impressions are critical in networking and in landing the right job! It is important to always present your best manners in every situation, and follow best practices set by your fellow students and potential colleagues.

1 Interviews Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes early to all

interviews and company functions. Make sure you have all of the necessary documents needed for the interview (copy of rsum, application materials).

6 Thank you letters Send a thank you letter after each com-

2 Eye contact Make sure you look people in the eye and keep 3 Bad habits Dont chew gum or mints while interviewing

pany meeting and stay in touch. (See page 43 for guidelines on writing and sending a thank you card.)

eye contact consistently. It lets them know you are interested in what they have to say and contribute.

or in a conversation with a potential employer. Sit up straight instead of slouching or leaning. Always have a smile and express interest by maintaining eye contact, asking questions and using voice inflection.

SOCIAL NETWORKING
Many employers use social networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn to view profiles of potential employees. Dont let online social networking jeopardize your career opportunities. Protect your image by following these simple tips:

4 Dress for success Dress for the job you want, or aspire to
have; dont dress for your current role.

1 Be careful. Nothing is private. Dont post anything on your

site or your friends sites you wouldnt want a prospective employer to use. Derogatory comments, revealing or risqu photos, foul language and lewd jokes all will be viewed as a reflection of your character.

E-MAIL ETIQUETTE
When you are using e-mail for business correspondence, keep the following tips in mind: Include an appropriate salutation. Use titles for customers, prospective employers and others whom you dont know well. Reserve information salutations, such as Hi, for people you know well. Use bullets for information that can be presented in list form. Use correct spelling, grammar and punctuation. Keep your e-mail concise. Consider sending lengthy messages as an attachment write a brief executive summary e-mail to describe the attachment. Avoid sending negative or confidential information by e-mail. Use an appropriate closing. Informal closings, such as later should be reserved for nonprofessional correspondence and not used with hiring managers or business contacts. Include contact information in your signature. This is another way for recipients to identify who you are and how you can be reached.

2 Be discreet. If your network offers the option, consider

setting your profile to private so that it is viewable only by friends of your choosing. And since you cant control what other people say on your site, you may want to use the block comments feature. Remember, everything on the Internet is archived and there is no eraser!

3 Be prepared. Check your profile regularly to see what com-

ments have been posted. Use a search engine to look for online records of yourself to see what is out there about you. If you find information you feel could be detrimental to your candidacy or career, see about getting it removed and make sure you have an answer ready to counter or explain digital dirt.

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Olin Career Guide | BUSINESS ETIQUETTE

DINING ETIQUETTE
Some of the following tips are from the book Panache That Pays written by Maria Everding, President and Founder of the Etiquette Institute, St. Louis, MO, www.TheEtiquetteInstitute.com. here will be times when interviews occur over a meal. The following tips will help you avoid uncomfortable situations that can detract from your interview appearance and performance. Do not underestimate the importance of good manners at a business meal; they truly can be a deciding factor in a hiring situation! Dont order an alcoholic beverage. Even if the people you are with do so, avoid it in an interview setting. Dont order the most expensive item on the menu. Avoid ordering foods that are difficult to eat (spaghetti, nachos, noodle soup, etc.). Turn off your cell phone. Put your napkin in your lap while eating and leave it on the table, not your chair, if you need to leave the table momentarily. When youre finished with your meal, place your napkin to the right or left side of your plate on the table. Blot your lips with your napkin before taking a drink to avoid lipstick, lip balm or anything else that may end up on your glass. Wait for your interviewer to begin eating before you start eating. Wait for everyone to arrive before beginning any portion of the meal. Rest your forearms and elbow on the table only in between courses. When everyone is seated, unfold your napkin and place it on your lap. The napkin should be folded in half with the fold toward your waist. Pass both the salt and pepper shaker when someone asks for just one. Dont hold your utensils in a fist. Bring the food to your mouth, not your mouth to the food. Bread is to the left of the plate, drinks are to the right. You can remember this by forming the letter b for bread with your thumb and forefinger on your left hand and a d for drinks on your right hand.
BUSINESS ETIQUETTE | Olin Career Guide

When eating bread, break off a small piece over the bread plate. Butter the broken portion and eat just that much at a time. For the butter, take an amount as its passed around the table and put it on your plate to use. Remove a seed, pit, piece of bone or gristle from your mouth with cupped fingers and place it under something on your plate, not on the table. Dont discuss diets or the healthiness/unhealthiness of your or other peoples food; it can make someone angry or uncomfortable. Dont place bags, purses, phones, sunglasses or keys on the table. Do not apply makeup or brush your hair at the table. Dont order a to-go container for leftover food. Typically, the host of the meal will pay the bill.

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DRESS FOR SUCCESS

First Impressions

By Jill Bremer of Bremer Communications Certified Image Professional: www.bremercommunications.com

First impressions are based on instinct, and emotion and biases; stereotypes lie at the foundation of first impressions. Within 30 seconds, people judge your economic level, your educational level, your social position, your level of sophistication and your level of success. Within four minutes, theyve made decisions about your trustworthiness, compassion, reliability, intelligence, capability, humility, friendliness and confidence. Like it or not, it is often that first impression that determines your future more than your professional achievements or educational credentials.

should be reserved for when there is no interaction with clients or important events. Business casual clothes can be purchased in the same stores that you purchase suits. Business casual does not include jeans!

Wardrobe Principles
These tips will help guide you when you shop for appropriate clothes for interviews and work. Wear neutral colors and styles. Examples are navy blue, gray, brown, black and tan. Never under dress; its better to be overdressed than under and its better to exceed expectations than to disappoint. If you dont wear a suit, wear a jacket or a third piece (casual jacket, sweater, scarf, tie, tasteful necklace). Never expose too much bare skin. For women, choose to be covered rather than uncovered when thinking about what to wear on legs, arms and upper body. Keep your appearance current, yet age-appropriate. This includes hairstyles, makeup, eyeglasses and shoes. Wear fashion trends sparingly.

First impressions are made with the emotional side of our brain, not the rational, and experience has taught us that our first impressions are usually correct. The process of labeling others helps the world make sense to us and, once we apply a stereotype to someone, our rational brain seeks to validate it. Because we dont want to admit we made a mistake, we cling to our opinions rather than revise them, which means its crucial that the first impression you make upon someone is positive. How can you make a positive first impression? Determine your audience, identify their expectations and dress in a way that reflects those expectations.

Make sure your clothing is a good fit. Avoid jackets and pants that are too large or small.

Shopping Tips
Quality garments can be found at discount stores, off-price retailers and outlet locations. Avoid impulse shopping; stay focused and look for quality fabrics. Make a list of the five things that you really need and shop from that list only.

Women Whenever possible, purchase all three pieces of a suit:

Jacket, pants and skirt.

Four Levels of Dress

Traditional Business For men Suit, shirt and tie.
For women Matching, skirted suit. (Pant suits are acceptable as well.)

Men Buy several shirt-and-tie combinations for each new suit you purchase.
The goal is to not have a closet full of clothes but a small collection of quality garments that are worn frequently. Alterations are a must! They can make off-the-rack clothing look custom made.

the presence of a jacket.

Executive Business Casual For men and women Defined by Standard Business Casual For men and women Defined by a Basic Business Casual For men and women Defined as two
pieces: Top and bottom. A shirt or blouse and pants or skirt. This
Olin Career Guide | BUSINESS ETIQUETTE

Grooming Principles
Women
Hair For business, hairstyles should be neat and appropriate; nothing extreme or overdone. It should be flattering to your face shape

third piece such as a sweater vest, twin set, tie, scarf or tasteful jewelry.

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Each interview offers you only one chance to make a good first impression. Good advice for interview dressing is to take it to the next level, even in business casual environments. The key is to look polished and professional.
Anne Voller, Vice President, Executive Recruitment & College Relations, Macys and easy to maintain. If your hair is very long, consider a sophisticated ponytail or just pulling the sides back. Makeup Makeup should be worn by every businesswoman every day. It conceals, smoothes and polishes. Take the time to apply it carefully and blend it thoroughly. A natural look is most appropriate in the workplace. Hands/Nails Well-groomed hands and manicured nails are an important part of your professional image. Nail polish shades should be soft without much iridescence. Polish should never be chipped. Fragrance The safest advice for fragrance is not to wear any at all for business. If you do, go very light. Never wear fragrance on interviews or when meeting new clients. Body Make sure to be freshly showered/bathed. Wear clothing that covers tattoos or body piercings. Breath Brush your teeth before the interview. If you use mints or chew gum, make sure they are out of your mouth before you interact with the interviewer.

Additional Tips
Women
Shoes: Closed-toe shoes are the most appropriate to wear on an interview and when meeting with clients. (Dont forget to wear nylons on your legs for those same interactions.) Shoes should be clean with a modest heel. Skirts: Should be knee length and cover your thighs when you are seated. Jewelry: Wear minimal, conservative jewelry (a watch, one pair of earrings, one necklace). Avoid noisy bracelets that can distract the interviewer or client. Earrings should not be larger than the size of a quarter. Handbag: Your handbag should be conservative, in good condition and complementary to your outfit.

Men
Hair The best hairstyle is one that looks natural and as if it doesnt need attention. If your hair is very long, consider cutting it before going on an interview. Trim long sideburns or other facial hair. Face A clean-shaven look is appropriate in most industries. Hands/Nails Hands need to be smooth with no dead skin or dry patches. Keep fingernails clean, short and smooth. Fragrance The safest advice for fragrance is not to wear any at all for business. If you do, go very light. Never wear fragrance on interviews or when meeting new clients. Body Make sure to be freshly showered/bathed. Hide tattoos or body piercings. Breath Brush your teeth before the interview. If you use mints or chew gum, make sure they are out of your mouth before you interact with the interviewer.

Men
Shoes: Dont forget to shine them! Socks: Wear them and make sure theyre in good shape and dark in color. Tie: Your tie should be conservative; no loud patterns or colors. Shirt: White or light blue are the most conservative choices; stay away from bold or dark dress shirts. Jewelry: Remove earrings nose and ear for all professional interactions. Copyright 2009 Bremer Communications These materials may not be duplicated, reproduced or distributed in any manner without the express written consent of Bremer Communications.

BUSINESS ETIQUETTE | Olin Career Guide

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ETHICS IN RECRUITING
The Weston Career Center seeks to maintain and enhance the reputation of Olin Business School and Washington University with our corporate partners, prospective partners and the community at large. Students are expected to conduct themselves with professionalism, honesty and decorum for every contact with an employer and to conduct their job search in an ethical fashion at all times. The following guidelines were developed for this purpose. A student will be well-prepared and appropriately dressed for every contact with an employer. This includes company information sessions, informational interviews, job interviews and followup activities. A student will give at least two business days notice before canceling or changing an interview. In the event of a No Show for an interview, a student must meet with a career advisor within two business days of the missed interview to discuss drafting a letter of apology to the recruiter. On-campus recruiting privileges will be revoked until appropriate follow-up actions have occurred, as defined by the career advisor. Academics come first. Students will avoid missing classes to interview, attend company information sessions or participate in any event sponsored by the WCC and should coordinate with their professor(s) if any absences are unavoidable. Students will always represent themselves accurately to employers in regards to factual data about GPA, academic achievements, skills, and all other information. Students are responsible for keeping such information current in all systems. Acceptance of an offer, whether verbal or in writing, is considered binding. After accepting an offer, it is unacceptable to continue interviewing for other jobs and making office visits. Students will promptly report all offers and status (i.e., holding, rejected or accepted) in a timely manner and update their offer status appropriately. Students who are employed while taking classes (e.g., PMBA) will honor their employers contracts for continuing education benefits. Students are expected to make an earnest effort to learn about the company prior to an interview. Failure to do so demonstrates the candidates lack of interest and reflects poorly on all students. Scheduling an interview is a formal commitment between the student and the employer. Nothing damages a reputation with employers more than failing to show up for a scheduled interview. Students will be considered a no-show if they do not appear for their interview and risk suspension from further interviewing. Students should promptly acknowledge invitations for office visits (scheduled visits to a companys place of business) and indicate whether they accept or reject these invitations. Unexcused absence from an office visit is subject to the no-show policy.

Recruiter Ethics
Professional interviewers are often trained to ask questions that only relate to the applicants ability to do the job. If the intent of a question is not relevant to the applicants ability to do the job, that question may be unlawful; its important to know your rights. Below is a list of acceptable and unacceptable interview questions.

Subject
Disability Citizenship Age Military Experience Religion or Creed Arrest Record Marital and Family
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Acceptable
Do you have any disabilities that would prevent you from performing the duties of the job? Please describe your disability for the purpose of assessing any accommodations that need to be made. Are you authorized to work in the United States? In which languages are you fluent? (If relevant to the job) Are you over the age of 18? In what branch of the armed forces did you serve? What training or education did you receive in the military? Its not acceptable to ask about religion. Have you ever been convicted of a crime that is reasonably related to the job in question? Would you be willing to travel as necessary? Would you be willing to relocate?

Unacceptable
Do you have any disabilities? Have you had any recent or past illnesses or operations? How is your health? Are you a U.S. citizen? Where were you born? What is your native language? How old are you? What is your date of birth? Were you honorably discharged from the military?

Have you ever been arrested? Are you married? Do you have any children? Have you made child care arrangements?

Olin Career Guide | BUSINESS ETIQUETTE