Manners Matter During Job Interview
—Kate Traynor
BETHESDA, MD, 22 October 2001 — The national
pharmacist shortage should not be used as a reason
for job seekers to show poor etiquette during interviews.
Darlene M. Mednick, M.B.A., vice president of pharmacy
relations for Merck-Medco Managed Care LLC, said
manners definitely make an impression on her. Mednick,
who hired over 700 pharmacists in 2000, has found
that students vary greatly in the degree of professionalism
they present at job interviews.
During one pharmacy school's career fair, Mednick
said, "I had at least three students walk up
to me, ... and instead of sticking out their hand
to me, shaking their hand, introducing themselves,
... they said in one way, shape, or form: So, whattaya
got?"
"The next day," Mednick recalled, "three
of the interviews that were signed up, scheduled,
never showed and never even sent word."
Mednick compared this scene with a career fair held
by another school in the same state.
"It was the greatest experience. The students
had their resumes, they were professionally dressed.
They were very, very professional, very polite, very
prepared."
Not surprisingly, Mednick said the students at this
latter school had a much better chance of landing
a job or internship at Merck-Medco than did their
less-polite counterparts at the first school.
What etiquette do employers like Mednick expect
to see during a job interview? Here are some of the
basics:
Be on time. Showing up late for an interview does
not make a positive impression on an employer, who
might assume that you will also fail to report on
time for work.
Dress professionally. The workplace's dress code
might allow for casual attire, but that code does
not extend to the interview. By wearing a clean,
well-pressed suit, you help show that you take the
job seriously.
Be prepared. Bring extra copies of your resumes
and reference lists. And learn as much as you can
about the potential employer—this will help
you to better understand the job and ask intelligent
questions about the job and the workplace.
Body language counts. A pleasant smile, firm handshake,
and good posture can help you project an air of confidence,
even if you really are nervous.
Be friendly, but not too friendly. The person who
interviews you must figure out whether your personality
fits the organization’s culture. But the interviewer
does not need to hear your life story to get a feel
for your personality. For the most part, try to keep
the conversation at a professional level.
Thank the interviewer. A written or e-mailed note
thanking the interviewer is not only polite, it also
keeps your name on the person’s mind. If there
is competition for the position, the effort you take
to thank an employer for interviewing you could help
tip the job scale in your favor.
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