First impressions always leave a lasting impression. When you meet someone, you want to make sure you’re dressed nicely and say the right things. It’s important to remember this when you’re meeting anyone, but this is very crucial
The first time you meet a hiring manager, your attire should be professional or business clothing.
A nice suit jacket and slacks with a button-down shirt would be suitable for men or a blouse and dress pants would be appropriate for women. And you want to avoid anything too loud or bright that could be distracting to anyone. Your attire should be professional and neat.
What To Say When Meeting a Hiring Manager?
Before you meet with a hiring manager, make sure you’ve done your research on the company you’re interviewing with. It’s crucial to have the knowledge and be very familiar with the history of your potential employer. It’ll help you stand out in the hiring manager’s hiring search.
Showing you the company background lets the interviewer know that you did research. If you researched the company, that shows you care about the job. Learning about the company’s history could possibly come up in a conversation, and that’s a conversation you want to be able to have.
Here are a few things you should say when you first meet a hiring manager:
- Tell them about your background
- Give them honest and smart answers
- Ask them questions
- Express your enthusiasm about the job
- Speak clearly
Some people can get a great deal of anxiety before meeting with an interviewer. That’s understandable, you’re meeting with a complete stranger that can have a positive impact on your life. And it may seem like that person holds a lot of power, but stay calm and relaxed so things can go smoothly for you.
Don’t be afraid of a little small talk either, it could make things easier for you. Small talk is a great way to break the ice and make things more comfortable for both of you. Something as simple as “How’s the weather” or “Have you seen any good movies lately” opens the door for conversation to make you more relaxed before the tough questions begin. And it’s also a great tool to use for networking and could land you other opportunities.
Confidence also goes a long way and it will show during a meeting with a hiring manager. When you speak, don’t be timid. Speak with a positive and strong tone, this will show the recruiter or manager that you’re serious about the gig and feel great about your abilities to do the job. If you sound nervous or shy, that could play a factor in their hiring decision.
Not only knowing what to say to a hiring manager is essential, but in these interviews, you should also be able to know when to be quiet. At times some people can talk too much and ruin the flow of an interview. Don’t overtalk the manager or begin rambling, anytime you speak, you should be clear and concise.
What Do I Need To Know Before Seeing a Recruiter or Hiring Manager?
Preparation before your interview is key. Before you meet with the manager or recruiter, you should be ready to talk about salary expectations for the job, your experience, and typical interview questions. Research the average salary for the position, that way you could have a ballpark idea of the salary you’re looking for. It could come up in the interview.
Not all interviews are the same. But most hiring managers use the same line of questioning to get an idea of the type of person you are and how you would fit with their company. Oftentimes they want to get a feel for your personality. So come into the meeting expecting to get asked the typical interview questions.
Questions to be prepared for in a job interview:
- Tell me about yourself
- How do you fit with this company?
- Why should we hire you?
- What did you do in this situation?
- What’s your biggest weakness?
- What’s your biggest strength?
- What’s your salary expectations?
Practice your answer to these questions and more, you don’t want to get tripped up in the interview or lose your train of thought. Situational questions are also very common during meetings with hiring managers. It’s best to think of a situation you handled in the past and be ready to discuss it in-depth with the interviewer.
Another question that often gets asked during an interview is “how do your skills relate to this job.” Before the interview, write down your skills and then compare them to the job you’re applying for and identify any skills you might be lacking for the job. Explain to the hiring manager that while you might not have a certain skill or trait, but with their tutelage, you’ll be able to gain the necessary skills you need.
Also, expect to be asked about your future goals or where you plan to be in five years. When answering this question, you want to show you have some ambition and optimism. A great response would be expressing that you would love to work your way up in the company and be working there for years to come and maybe retire there.
Recruiters and hiring managers talk with a lot of candidates. So when it’s your turn to talk with them, do what you can to stand out. Leave a lasting impression or say something unique and will set you apart from the rest of the candidates. Think of this as a sales pitch that’ll seal the deal and close the sale.
If you’re able to, get a friend or family member to go over some of these questions with you. It’ll help you be more relaxed and can help with remembering your answers to some of these interview questions. Practice with them at least two to three times and have them take notes of your posture and tone during the mock interview session.
What Should I Wear To Meet a Hiring Manager?
Now here comes the most important section, your outfit. How do I decide what to wear today? Not only do you want to feel great heading into your interview, but you should look great. Meeting with a recruiter or hiring manager, you always want to look the part. That means you want to show them you’re serious about the job by dressing nicely.
Being successful in a job interview not only depends on how you answer questions but also how you present yourself. If you show up to an interview with a pair of Nikes and shorts, then you’ll likely get laughed at and sent home. Be smart and find an outfit that’ll definitely help you get the job.
Things you should not wear to an interview:
- T-shirts
- Athletic wear
- Jeans
- Flip flops
- Heavy perfume or cologne
- Excessive accessories
Figuring out what to wear during a job interview can be a daunting task, but try not to overthink it. Just make sure you dress to make the best impression you can make at a job interview. Your first impression is a form of nonverbal communication and your interviewer can start to make judgements off you depending on how you are dressed.
Keep your attire to a business or professional look. Make sure your clothes are nicely ironed or take them by the cleaners and let someone else do it. Try to do some research on the company’s dress attire and if you can’t find anything, try contacting the HR department to see what their dress code is.
Everything depends on the job you’re applying for. If you applied for a job at a law office, then, of course, you would want to wear a suit and tie for men or a tailored dress for women. If it’s a less formal position, then just dress in business casual attire.
Business casual usually means a pair of slacks and a button-down shirt for men. And for women, a pencil skirt that’s knee-length or longer. If you decide to wear a button-down shirt, make sure that it’s tucked in for a professional neat look.
When you’re picking out your outfit, try to make a statement, but don’t go overboard. Don’t wear a poke-a-dot tie with a bunch of different colors that’ll end up distracting them. Buying the right tie or bow could help your attire stand out. All of this would leave an impression on the hiring manager.
These are also great tips to have when deciding what to wear when seeing a lawyer.
7 Outfits Perfect To Wear When Meeting a Recruiter or Hiring Manager
If you’re struggling to find or figure out an outfit to wear, don’t worry. Here are a few outfits that would be great for a meeting with a recruiter or hiring manager.
Outfit 1
For something business casual, a neutral button down shirt with neutral colored chinos will work. And throw on a pair of suede or leather shoes.
Outfit 2
Another business casual outfit for men would be a nice colored button down shirt, with a pair of slacks and a tie. Combined with some nice suede or leather shoes.
Outfit 3
If you decide to dress business formal, then you’re going to need to grab a full matching tailored suit and polished leather shoes.
Outfit 4
As for the ladies, a business formal outfit would be a nice traditional suit with heels, or if heels bother you too much, ballet flats or loafers would also do the trick.
Outfit 5
If a suit isn’t your style, then a business skirt is great for any business formal setting. Throw on a solid colored blouse that compliments the skirt.
Outfit 6
If you preferred a more relaxed outfit, a short sleeve top with a vest and open toe shoes would be a good choice.
Outfit 7
As for men, one last outfit could be a nice dark sport coat or blazer with wool or cotton pants and a pair of leather dress shoes.
Wear What You’re Comfortable In
At the end of the day, you need to be relaxed and comfortable when you head to your meeting. Don’t wear anything too tight, or too loose. Get your outfit tailored if you need to, this will be an important meeting and you don’t want your outfit to be lacking.
Try on different styles, consider how you look and feel in the outfit and go from there. Most importantly, try not to stress yourself out too much about your outfit because that could deter your preparation.
Now, if you are wondering how you are going to look stylish as a young professional on a budget, we’ve got you covered. Check out that article for some tips and tricks to help you get business ready.
