How to present yourself for an interview?

After going through those rigorous process of tests of different nature, finally, the call arrives, Interview. And preparing for the interview is an examination in itself with no syllabus to refer to. Taking those extra careful steps to finally enter the dream job, there always seems to be something overlooked.

Checklist: Preparation and Knowledge Base - Check; Resume and Layout - Check; Language and Communication Skills - Check; Attire - Check

Yet, there is a chance that with everything in line, it would still feel incomplete. So, what is it that still needs a check?

Well, the answer is "Integrity."

Integrity here, refers to the overall aura and personality represented by you and your checklist items. The goal is to make them all demonstrate in-line, the same message, in the same tone, and in the same manner as the job requires. So let us begin!

Understand Your Profile and Opportunity

Your profile and the opportunity you are seeking should be the go to factor to define your presentation. Profile covers your Education, Training and other general norms, Experience (if any, relevant or not), other aspects of your growth, everything represented in a single format of a proper resume (alongwith documents). Opportunity refers to the Job Prospectus, Work Requirements, Growth Prospects, Employer (Company) and so on. Getting a general understanding of either is essential to decide on the dress up.

Factors to Consider

The primary factors from your resume to consider while dressing up for the interview are; the educational background, position being offered, experience (any), and persona. Let's take it one by one.

Education: If your education (alongside your age) is on the intermediate to lower end, dressing strictly formal but not over dressing is the safest bet (general formal attire, solid white, very light blue, very light grey shirt or the gender/cultural comtemporary clothing for upper body, dark pants/contemporary clothing accordingly for the lower part).

On the higher side of education, a suit jacket or a proper suit must do (or the gender/cultural counterpart). Formal shoes, and well managed hair (especially if non-conservative in length and cut) can never be overlooked. It reflects sincerety at the least, if not 'the expected' maturity.

Position: The level of the position offered is a big factor in this regard. Dress as a person would if they are two ranks above your offered position. Anything over it is not recommended. As a simple fact, any interview is conducted by a person at least 3-4 ranks above the offered position, and thus, a well balanced progressive attitude can be maintained by dressing.

Thus, a clerical bank job interview can be dressed for in simple formals, while an operation's engineer (junior operation's manager) should be given in a simple suit, anything above should be dressed for sharply and much more conservatively. Reflects upon the professional attitude towards work and environment, also, understanding and presence of mind.

Experience: Experience is the one factor that brings complication in both the resume formatting and personal presentation. Without experience, the former rules are the ones that apply. With experience, it further complicates to your previous position held, company profile, work culture attended; these factors being independent of the current. It is best to dress somewhere in between of the expected and required.

Say you were in a corporate culture before at a lower-mid level position; dress like a corporate mid-senior level employee (well tailored suit) if the position remains similar; unless you are expected of better dressing in the new workplace. With experience, one is expected to know how to present themselves well.

Employer: Your attire and the respect for the position and the company is probably the strongest sign of sincerity. Always research well on the employer's profile and dress accordingly along-with the above factors in consideration. However, if the employer maintains a casual environment in their workplace, casual formals is the minimum sincerity to show.

Analysing general Industry and employment trends in India.