When you dress sharply for a job interview, it is more likely to go well and the odds of being offered the job are highly in your favor.

There is a certain etiquette that goes with a job interview. Much of it seems like common sense, however there is a huge amount of the American population that continues to fall victim to these classic blunders. Everyone is nervous before a job interview, it is only natural. Do not let that nervousness translate into mistakes and cause you to not think clearly. Here are some tips for any job interview.

1. Not preparing for an interview. One of the biggest mistakes that you can make as an interviewee is not researching the company that is interviewing you and thinking that you can simply “wing it”. That may have worked for your sophomore year english project, but it does not ‘fly’ in the professional job environment. You will come off much more polished and intelligent if you look as though you know what you are doing and you really do. Know what the job is that you are applying for. Have a friend ask you some typical job interview questions so that you are prepared to answer them in a clear, concise, and eloquent manner.
2. Dressing poorly. You would be amazed by how many people show up to job interviews at an office building in flip-flops and raggedy jeans. This is not appropriate to wear to work, why would it be appropriate when you do not even have the job yet? Dressing slovenly or haphazardly will send the wrong message across to the people who are interviewing you. Your dress represents the type of person you are. Make sure that you have brushed your hair, brushed your teeth, put on deodorant, and smell good. What you want is to make a fabulous impression within the first five seconds of the interview, and you do that by dressing powerfully and sharply. Wearing a suit is always good, and women can do so as well. Other options for women include office-appropriate pencil skirts and low heels.
3. Do not, under any circumstances, walk into the interview chewing gum. When you do so you appear to be no more than twelve years old and you instantly send across an image of apathy and lack of seriousness. If you do chew gum, after a morning coffee perhaps, be sure that you spit it out before you enter the room.
4. Be a real person. This may sound silly, but there are many people who freeze up during an interview and only give general answers to questions. You are allowed to smile and talk a little bit about yourself. Respond in a clear way and they will know that you are a sharp person and intelligent. Focus on the interviewer because when you stare at the back wall you are not sending a good message across. When you do so they may be thinking that you are a passive person who will not accomplish the job that they have in mind.

If you follow this simple advice, you will be fine. Present yourself in the best manner possible so that they will see the best you there is.

Related articles

• 5 tips to help prepare for your next job interview (christianpf.com)
• Interview Tips: Do’s and Don’ts in Interview (slideshare.net)

Ryan Harris is a surfboard designer and artist and is able to do what he loves and get paid for it!

It is true, you can turn what you love into what you do for a living. Believe it or not it happens! It takes dedication and commitment to get to that point, but once you are there, you are soaring. There are so many career opportunities out there that you are sure to be able to find something you like. The hard part is balancing money with interest. If the money interests you more than anything, then by all means go for the highest paying job that you can. But if you just want to do something you love, then follow that and the money will come. Here are some examples of people that made it work.

Nathan Sawaya is what is known as a brick artist. He does not work with red clay and mortar, he builds something on a much smaller scale. He works for LEGO and sculpts various objects with their little, plastic pieces. His work is on display at various locations around the world and he has been featured in publications such as the Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalogue. He is able to offer customized sculptures of people or their loved ones once they order something. He most recently made two replicas of the lions that guard the entrance to the New York Public Library, a job that cost well into the five figures.

Two friends, Mike Prichinello and Zac Moseley, are co-owners of the Classic Car Club Manhattan. Their job is to drive antique and classic cars and talk to other people about them. The membership for the club is a whopping $15,000 dollars a head per year and includes things such as skeet shooting, road rallies, and sport parks. For many people, it sounds as though they are living the dream. They are able to take it slow and easy while living a lifestyle that can only be described as glamorous.

Aloha, Ryan Harris! What could be better than being a surfboard designer? Not much. Ryan Harris is the co-owner of a surfboard company called Eco Boardworks. He is there to design and build some of the coolest looking, ecologically friendly surfboards in the world. He says, “I get dirty like a five-year-old every single day, covered in dust, covered in resin and then get to clean up and go home and then do it all over again.” Life is good for Ryan Harris. He enjoys what he does and he got to that point all by himself.

There are plenty of other dream jobs out there. The thing is that you need to find what your dream job is. What is it that you love so much that you would be willing to do it for the rest of your life? Once you figure that out, follow your dream and you will eventually get there and love every second of it. Do not get trapped doing something that you are only slightly good at but hate. Make the most out of life.