Interview Etiquette

[CycleChic06]

Also, I spoke with my friend again who works at this company already and she was telling me that the owner is a very shrewd business person and he's going to try his best to get me as cheaply as possible. I'm awful with salary negotiations and I tend to think that most (but not all) women tend to be less upfront when negotiating salaries. Does anyone have any tips for me?

Emily

[LBTC]

Really no bag to an interview?? Not even a small purse? I'm not sure what I'd do with my car keys, wallet cell phone, planner, etc...that I always carry with me. I can't think of any other alternatives.

A briefcase! I always bring a freshly printed colour resume for each of the interviewers to the interview. Have to put them somewhere, so the briefcase it is...I was told this made a huge impression at one of my interviews.

~T~

[Blueberry]

I'm lucky, I've only HAD to wear a suit a handful of times at my job. I work at a VERY liberal law firm. Yay for casual EVERYDAY!!!!

Why can't we have those in North Carolina????? The one negative on my recent review was that they didn't think I dressed "professionally" enough. WTF???? I wear a suit everyday. The person reviewing me had the audacity to suggest that I employee her personal shopper. Ummm....no.....I have no desire to wear clothes that are her "style" - very bright colors, wide belts, large houndstooth print, etc. UGH - NOT for me! Guess black/gray/navy doesn't cut it when you work in her department.....

Oh yeah - interviewing advice - I've been doing a lot of that lately...Here's what works/doesn't for me...

1) Most women do come with a small handbag and a portfolio. Perfectly acceptable.
2) Men - DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT come to an interview in a seersucker suit with a straw hat...
3) While you're at it, don't tell a female interviewer that you want to be a part of the "good ole boys network...
4) Or that you don't think women make good attorneys (I'm not making this up)...
5) Women - DO NOT dress like Ally McBeal - Skirts OR pants are OK, but it better be a matching suit and the skirt really shouldn't be so short you have to pull it down when you sit...
6) Don't wear heels so high you wobble when you walk (some other employees in my office could learn from that one too)...
7) Hose are required with skirts for an interview. Black seems to be OK now, if going neutral - "oyster" tends to be a good color (on the pale side of suntan seems to be in style now)...It should not be the really dark I've been out in the sun all year no one could be this tanned "suntan"...
8) Lay off the perfume (Miss Giant Houndstooth could stand to learn that lesson - I gag in my office for 15 minutes after she leaves)...
9) Once you've been given a position with the firm for after law school, DO NOT wear a dress cut down below your bra line *in the front* to the office Christmas party....

That should do it :/ Of course, it depends on who you interview with and his/her style. Most of the men in my office wouldn't notice if I wore sweatpants to work.

[Mr. Bloom]

...she was telling me that the owner is a very shrewd business person and he's going to try his best to get me as cheaply as possible. I'm awful with salary negotiations and I tend to think that most (but not all) women tend to be less upfront when negotiating salaries.
Emily

Isn't this the way of things?

If you REALLY want this job and there are many qualified candidates, he has the upper hand. Focus on getting something far to start with specific criteria to earn specific raises in the future. Maybe determine if there are non-cash benefits that can close the gap...

If you REALLY want this job and there are few qualified candidates, then the question is whether you have the moxey (and poker face) to POLITELY imply your willingness to not proceed (or be slightly pensive in your response) if it's not going your way...

In either event, be armed with salary comps for the position to support your case.

Don't feel bad about asking for something. HOW you handle it will determine the extent to which he respects you later. There is no advantage to being taken advantage of...

[pooks]

You don't have to say yes to the job/money in front of him, either!

The idea of wearing a suit of any sort w/o hose blows my mind. I know that seems to be a trend, but to me it just looks odd, and since I have sweaty feet, gross.

Each business has its own "uniform," and you have to look around and dress appropriately for that business, or as the guy who wrote DRESS FOR SUCCESS says, dress for the job you want, not the job you have. My husband took that advice a couple of decades ago and it has always served him well.

And as for Southern Cal -- that's another place where industry/position makes a difference. I've been in and out of several agencies in Beverly Hills and the agents (female, of course) I've seen have always worn hose with their 2,000 buck designer suits.

I'm one of the few women on earth who loves pantihose. I love the way my legs feel -- slick and sexy -- when I wear them. I'd hate to have to wear them every day again, though.

[winddance]

Also, I spoke with my friend again who works at this company already and she was telling me that the owner is a very shrewd business person and he's going to try his best to get me as cheaply as possible. I'm awful with salary negotiations and I tend to think that most (but not all) women tend to be less upfront when negotiating salaries. Does anyone have any tips for me?

Emily

Here's what I was taught:

Don't name a number. Do your research and find out about what it is that you should make. Be honest about your salary history, but when asked to name your salary expectations just say "competitive" or if it's on the application, leave it blank or write that. If you name a number, it might be below what they're prepared to offer you, and then you lose. If you name a number and it's higher than what they're prepared to offer you, they might not offer thinking you'll decline. Then you lose.

Let them come to you with a number first. That way, you know where they stand and it's up to you to consider it and either accept or begin negotiations. You don't have to accept right away. If they really want you, they'll be flexible. If it isn't negotiable, then it's up to you to decide how much you want the job at what they're offering.

[Triskeliongirl]

The idea of wearing a suit of any sort w/o hose blows my mind. I know that seems to be a trend, but to me it just looks odd, and since I have sweaty feet, gross.

I am really curious about this. If you don't wear hose then what do you wear? Are you saying you wear a skirt suit with bare legs? To me that would look just so wrong. Do people actually do that in CA? Now, in summer I would would wear a skirt with sandles and no hose, but that would not be considered 'professional' just a comfortable thing I would do personally cuz I dress casually for work.

[lph]

This thread is terrifying. I am never going to apply for a job again in my life

I got my existing job on a perfectly written application and the ability to nod and smile and interject the occasional funny comment while my three interviewers chatted blithely among themselves.

[Dogmama]

This thread is terrifying. I am never going to apply for a job again in my life

I got my existing job on a perfectly written application and the ability to nod and smile and interject the occasional funny comment while my three interviewers chatted blithely among themselves.

I had an all day interview with key faculty members, lunch with the dept head and interviewed by three different committees. Talk about stress!

Salary negotiations:

1. Know what others in your field make. Add or subtract your experience and/or educational background. Come with data - be able to name sources.

2. If you cannot get your salary now - ask that you be reviewed in six months. Make it clear what you want (salary wise) if the boss is naming a figure below your figure.

3. This is touchy - your friend has a perspective that may - or may not - be correct. Perhaps s/he was offered a lower salary, or knows others who were, but perhaps those individuals are not as qualified as you. In other words, don't take one person's comment as truth.

[Mr. Bloom]

These are just my final thoughts and then I'll leave you alone...remember, however you handle this, don't be provoked by us to doing something that you're not comfortable with. BE YOU, BE COMFORTABLE...we're not in the heat of your battle...

Here's what I was taught:

...Let them come to you with a number first...

Everything winddance said is good advice.

So if they won't come up with a number...how do you get them to? You have to know how you will respond before you're in the negotiation.

Scenario One: He won't offer a number:
Boss: What do you want to make?
You: I'd like to be competitively compensated.
Boss: OK, but what does that mean to YOU? [Here's the tough part because he's putting it back in your court]
You: Well, market surveys are for this position to be in a range of $XXX and here are the reasons that I'm worth $xxx [This way, it's not YOU, it's the market] and I'd like to think that we could come to an agreement that is within this range.
Boss: [He'll either object or not...if so, try to keep the dialogue going and always leave the door open]

Alternatively, he's calibrated himself to your expectation...but remember, if there are many qualified candidates, you have less leverage if they're willing to accept less...this is something your friend needs to advise you on...if you trust her.

Scenario Two: He offers a low number
Boss: What do you want to make?
You: I'd like to be comptitively compensated.
Boss: Well, we had $xxx in mind [and it's low]
You: Oh! I really had expected that the range for this would be $yyy. Here are the reasons why I feel that I bring this value to your company...[know them and list them]
Boss: [Again, he'll either object or not...if so, try to keep the dialogue going and always leave the door open]

If it's not going well, take POOKS advice and ask for some time to think about it...in fact, even if he offers you more than you expect, it's good to express your satisfaction but still ask for a day or two to think about it before accepting.

Good Luck

[SheFly]

The other thing to keep in mind in your negotiations is that non-salary benefits may make up for a lower number. To me, three weeks vacation vs. two is a bigger bang than extra $$ (sometimes), and this is a bit easier to negotiate! Also, do they offer things like tuition reimbursement, great health benefits, profit sharing, 401K matching, etc.? These all add to your bottom line, and people often forget that.

For example, if your job offer were for $10K, but your benefits were completely paid for (and decent), that increases your bottom line by approx. $2500 (meaning you are now not paying this out of your $10K).

Bottom line is, consider the entire offer, not just the salary when determining whether to accept the position. For me, it is more about work/life balance at this point.

Good luck.

SheFly

[mimitabby]

I'm one of the few women on earth who loves pantihose. I love the way my legs feel -- slick and sexy -- when I wear them. I'd hate to have to wear them every day again, though.

Pooks, I have nothing against Panty hose, but they are not as comfy as soft wool socks, and bottom line, the stuff you wear OVER the panty hose is REALLY uncomfortable. (dresses, skirts)

LPH, I agree with you!! Not even volunteer work! If i have to go through a big PROCESS, the h e l l with it.

[LBTC]

This thread is terrifying. I am never going to apply for a job again in my life

Yes, this is what I was trying to say earlier! Terrifying!
~T~

[emily_in_nc]

I am really curious about this. If you don't wear hose then what do you wear? Are you saying you wear a skirt suit with bare legs? To me that would look just so wrong. Do people actually do that in CA? Now, in summer I would would wear a skirt with sandles and no hose, but that would not be considered 'professional' just a comfortable thing I would do personally cuz I dress casually for work.

Re-read her post: she said "w/o" hose...she feels the same as you!

Emily, who is happy that she dresses casually for work too...I haven't even worn a skirt in years!

[Trek420]

This thread is terrifying. I am never going to apply for a job again in my life

I got my existing job on a perfectly written application and the ability to nod and smile and interject the occasional funny comment while my three interviewers chatted blithely among themselves.

I got my present job by passing a series of tests. After being whittled down to a smaller group by other tests I recall for the final service rep test 90 people were in the room with me, 3 of us passed and the other two probably knocked out by the drug screening or the background check.

Many are called, few are chosen

I'm union so I never have to negotiate my own salery, which is good for folks like me who truly sock at that. In the almost 12 years I've been here we've been on strike once (4 days). So there is that risk. That was an interesting experience.

Wages are well....good, probably twice what I'd make in non-union customer service.

Benefits are great and time off? Much more than anywhere else, so far about 4 weeks + holidays + unpaid time off if I can afford to take unpaid time.

On the other hand the work's much more demanding than those jobs in many ways. The co. pays us more, they can ask a lot of us and they do.

I hope I never have to interview for a job again because I truly sock at negotiations .... but it's nice to know some of what to do if i had to.