Buying New Suits, And Other Fun Interview Prep Adventures

Written by Amy Vander Voort

Advice on interviewing is about as varied as advice on resumes. I listen to all advice, distill it, and come up with what I think works for me. After all, I have been interviewing at a professional level for years now and some things don’t change, right?

A well-meaning friend calls me in July 2009 and says she wants to help. She has been on TV numerous times and has been through “media training”. She wants to conduct some mock interviews with me and try to identify any problems with my interviewing style. She is convinced that my experience isn’t coming across somehow and it’s just a matter of tweaking this or that.

Over to her house I go. We start with a wardrobe consult. I always wear a black skirt suit with a silk blouse. She informs me that I am to wear separates to the interviews, such as slacks and a sweater. She also tells me suits are out and my jacket and pants should not match (where have I been?). Oh, and silk is an evening fabric so my nine silk blouses at $90 each are a no-no. Also, I am to wear my long, flowing hair in a bun.

Next we begin the “media training”. Apparently, I raise my eyebrows too much and I start every sentence with “Well…” Also, she says to emphasize that being out of work is a problem, that I am a homeowner, etc. By the way, it’s really, really hard to change your mannerisms. At one point, I burst into tears!

Armed with instructions on what to purchase, clothing-wise, for my coveted networking appointments, I rush over to Banana Republic at 5:30pm on a Sunday. After a frenzied shopping spree and multiple phone calls to my friend from the fitting room, I have two outfits that meet her specifications.

I embrace my new look and practice in a mirror, keeping my eyebrows down and looking more serious in general. If this is what it takes, then OK. I would wear scuba gear to an interview if it would help me land the job!

While I am happy for my friend’s help, it hasn’t changed my luck any. So, what’s the one thing I haven’t tried so far? That’s right, social media marketing!

-Amy

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