The eighth tip in a series of interviewing soft skills presentations

1. INTERVIEW TIP #8
SMILE!
Mary Sherwood Sevinsky,
MS, CCM, CDMS

2. About me…
• Mary Sherwood, MS, CDMS, CCM
Occupational Consultant
• www.about.me/marysevinsky
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• My Blog: www.JobSearchForTheRestOfUs.com
More information about my services: www.Life-Works.Info
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• Careerealism

3. REVIEW
By now you are getting the idea that there is really a lot
involved when experts and others tell you to “make sure to
prepare for an interview!” Already, in previous articles have
covered:
• Practicing – Over Preparing
• Taking Notes
• Wearing Appropriate and Comfortable Clothes.
• Visit the location the day before the interview
• Relax – don’t try to cram for an important interview
• Breathe to avoid saying “um” too much

4. BEFORE, DURING AFTER
• So far in this series we have talked mainly about how
to prepare to attend the interview.
• Tip #6 & #7 were the first tips concerned with
DURING THE INTERVIEW.
• We have covered a lot and still only talked about
interviewing “soft skills”
• The next series will address more of the “nuts and
bolts” of inteviewing

5. Smile.
• Really – remind yourself to smile!
• You might ask:
• Why is it important?
• Don’t you want to appear to take the interview
seriously?
• How will it help?
• Good questions!

6. Why Smile
• People can hear it in your voice when you smile.
• If you have ever worked in telephone sales you have
direct experience (and training) for this.
• So, someone on the phone can “hear” and react
positively to you smiling, however distantly
• Don’t you think smiling in person would also have a
positive effect?
• Of course!

7. Are you serious?
• Yes, you want to project your best business persona -
dress, bearing, confident, etc.
• But, you also want to communicate a sense of
humanity and personality.
• A bit of levity can lighten the mood and even lead to a
more conversational tone that can work in your favor!

8. Be a human being
• Often when I work with clients who are shy or
introverted, they can become comfortable
• (sometimes when sharing their “weakness”)
• Letting the interviewer know that she or his is
introverted.
• By this point in the interview the potential employer
probably already has surmised this
• So it often leads to at least a smile, sometimes a
chuckle

9. GET A CLUE
• You want the interviewer to remember you
pleasantly.
• You want to come across as someone the employer
and your coworkers would look forward to interacting
with.
• Don’t you?
• Yes!
• Smile!

10. Pretty is as pretty does…
• Smiling can also put you in a positive mindset and
calm your nerves as your brain will come to
understand,
• “Hey, I must be happy; I’m smiling.”
• Next time you are in a bad mood try it.
• You will see the effect it has on not only yourself, but
those you interact with.

11. RECAP
• Smile
• The interviewer will respond positively
• You will give the impression others would like to
interact with you
• It may put you at ease and change the tone of the
interview

12. OTHER TIPS
• So, you have practiced (see Interview Tip #1),
prepared your notes (Tip #2), and have appropriate,
comfortable clothes to wear (see Interview Tip #3).
• Interview Tip #4 shared the importance of visiting the
location the day before, and Tip #5, was relax. They all
addressed preparation and tips for before the
interview.
• Tip # 6 (Breathe), this one and the next tips deal with
that nerve racking During-The-Interview period.
• Tip #7 Strike a pose Join me next time for Tip #8….

13. Resources for possible interview questions
and/or answers:
• Articles in my blog
• Articles on CAREEREALISM
• Articles on the Web
• Need more help? Chat, Email, Skype, Hangout
Click here for email
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Skype Mary.E.Sherwood
• PS I also wanted to let you know about a new job search group
I just started on LinkedIn, it would be great to have you and
please share with your connections … If you are currently
employed you might want to “hide” this group on your Profile;
click here if you need help with that! Take care, Mary