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Thank you for choosing The Lynn Marshall Personnel Agency! The following have been constructed to help you prepare for and present yourself well during job interviews. Please review the following information and give us a call if you have any questions. An average interview may only last 20 minutes, a short amount of time to form a strong positive impression about another person. The following are some suggestions to keep in mind during an interview:

1. A firm handshake upon the opening and closing of a meeting is good business etiquette.

2. Do not chew gum.

3. Never smoke, even if the interviewer does and invites you to do so. Graciously refuse coffee, water, etc.

4. Never put your purse or briefcase on your lap during an interview. Place them on the floor by your chair.

5. Eye contact should be held comfortably when you are talking or listening. This says, "I�m confident and I�m interested."

6. Adjust the volume and speed of your speech to that of the interviewer so as not to overwhelm or bore the other person.

7. Lean towards the interviewer at points during the conversation whether you are speaking or listening. This creates openness and interest.

8. Smile when there is a reason. Don�t overdo it. Nervousness often paints a sober face which can be misconstrued as lack of confidence or personality.

9. REMEMBER, people hire people they like!

In many cases, you�ll be asked to complete an employment application even if you have already provided a resume to the employer.

The application form is very important. Often the employer will form an impression about you solely from the manner in which you have completed the application form. Below are some tips to help you make a good impression.

Be prepared! Bring the following: pen; resume; social security card; names, addresses and phone numbers of your personal and business references and/or former employers. Be sure to read the directions carefully. If it says �print�, then be sure to print clearly and neatly. Also, don�t rush through the application, but don�t take too long either.

Interviewing Negatives
* Arriving late to an interview.
* Lack of courtesy.
* Poor personal appearance.
* Nervousness or lack of confidence.
* No apparent interest in the company.
* No eye contact.
* Strong prejudices.
* Over-emphasizing money/benefits.
* Failure to express appreciation for the interviewer�s time.
* Speaking poorly of your last job/boss.
* Poor voice, diction or grammar.
* Being overly aggressive or overbearing.
* Limp handshake.
* Lack of enthusiasm.
* Expecting too much too soon.
* Sloppy application form/resume.
* Ambiguous responses to questions.

Possible Interviewing Questions
1. What are your future career plans?
2. What do you know about our company?
3. Why did you choose your field of work?
4. What are your three major strengths?
5. What are your three major weaknesses?
6. What are your hobbies?
7. Why does this particular job appeal to you?
8. What are your salary requirements?
9. Would you consider yourself to be a team player? Give me examples.
10. What kind of work interests you?
11. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
12. What jobs/subjects in school have you enjoyed the most/least?

You can project an impression of �promotable, successful and professional� just by the way you dress. Good grooming is a matter of caring about yourself. The way you dress reflects the image you have of yourself.

Hair - Make sure your hair is neat and clean. Your hair should never be in your eyes. If your hair is long, wear it pulled back or up. Messy hair says that you don�t care about yourself.

Nails - Be sure your nails are clean and neatly trimmed. If your nails are polished, avoid fad colors such as purple or �neon�. Clear is always best.

Make-Up - Make-up should be applied for business daytime wear. Keep it to a minimum. Avoid bright colors of shadows, eyeliners, blushes or lipsticks.

Perfume - Perfume or cologne should be kept very light or not at all. A strong scent could be very offensive to others.

Hosiery - Women should always wear hose in an office environment. The color should be as close to your own skin tone as possible.

Shoes - Never wear sandals whether they are flat or heeled. Closed toe shoes are most acceptable for business-wear. Be sure your shoes are clean and polished. - ABSOLUTELY NO TENNIS SHOES!

Jewelry - Your jewelry should not overpower you. Select something simple. Don�t wear oversized earrings, bulky necklaces or bracelets.

Clothing - Simple is safe. Following every fad that comes along does not necessarily make for a sharp dresser. Don�t wear short hemlines or low necklines - they aren�t appropriate for the office. A conservative suit or a skirt, light-colored blouse and blazer. Women: NEVER wear pants to an interview. Acceptable interview wear does not include pants even if they are fashionable and in style.

Summary - Dress for success! New opportunities may show up when you least expect it - be prepared. Learn what looks good on you!

Ok, you got the job! Great! The only thing barring you from the best job of your life is the fact that you know that when you give your notice, your current employer may want you to stay. You�re tempted. After all, you�ve put in a lot of time and energy into making a name for yourself in that company. Here are ten good reasons not to accept:

1. What kind of company do you work for if you have to threaten to resign before they give you what you are worth?

2. Where is the money for the counter offer coming from? Is it your next raise early? All companies have strict wage and salary guidelines which must be followed.

3. Your company will immediately start looking for a new person at a cheaper price.

4. You have now made your employer aware that you are unhappy. From this day on, your loyalty will always be in question.

5. When promotion time comes around, your employer will remember who was loyal and who wasn�t.

6. When times get tough, your employer will begin the cutback with you.

7. The same circumstances that have caused you to consider a change will repeat themselves in the future even if you accept a counter offer now.

8. Statistics show that if you accept a counter offer, the probability of voluntarily leaving in six months or being let go within one year is extremely high.

9. Accepting a counter offer is an insult to your intelligence and a blow to your personal pride - knowing that you have been bought.

10. Once the word gets out, the relationship that you now enjoy with your co-workers will never be the same. You will lose the personal satisfaction of peer group acceptance.

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