Called in for the interview - now what?

Statistically, interview decisions are made within the first sixty seconds before the candidate has even opened their mouth! How you walk, how you say ‘hello’ and how you are dressed all go to form a positive or negative image. There are several things interviewers for any position will look out for:

* First impressions
* Relevant experience
* Necessary skills
* Reason for applying
* Preparation

Recognised qualifications may be required for many careers in industry, but for any post, the first impression must be a positive one. You have to bear in mind the number of applicants applying for most appointments these days, so you only have a few minutes to make your mark, to create a positive image. So what makes for a successful interview? The most important thing is preparation. For many jobs you must look right and have a smart business like appearance, but it all depends on the position you are seeking. If, for instance, you have a ring in your nose, providing you look business like and are smart it should not be an issue; on the other hand, it could awake in-built prejudices within the interviewer. So be aware and do your research beforehand!

A successful interview will flow, and you will achieve a good rapport with your interviewer. Eye contact is very important as we cannot tell what someone thinks or means unless we look into their eyes. They really are the window of the soul, so respond to the person who has asked the question; even if that person is busy writing notes, they are still listening. Listening skills are essential for you too; an interview can be thrown off course if you answer the question you thought you heard rather than the one that was asked. It sounds obvious, but it's surprising how many people (usually through nerves) rush into an answer. Listen not only to the question, but to the question behind the question.

Remember - the first process is rejection - the second is selection.
* Know what you are applying for.
* Don’t send any projects or proof of work unless requested to do so
* Fill in application form properly - don’t just say ‘refer to CV’
* Find out as much as possible about the organisation and what it does
* Talk to people who work in that industry to find out what the job entails
* Find out what makes a person successful in that job
* Use as many contacts as you can
* Be honest in your CV - don’t build up your experience as the interviewer will see through it. Make sure it is well presented
* Go online, read relevant magazines or talk to the HR department to find out more.
* If information isn’t forthcoming demonstrate that you have tried to find it
* Have an early night!

It's a gym thing

It’s February already and congratulations to all of those who are still working hard on their New Year resolutions which include working out. However to the newbie’s or those who may have forgotten the gym is public area and there may be one or two things to bear in mind i.e. what is the correct gym etiquette. Along with all the new faces at the gym, comes the inappropriate gym etiquette. Here are my recent observations:
I am certain I'm not the only one who has seen, shall we say, surprising wardrobe choices at the gym, from leather shoes to pyjamas to ‘barely present at all’ clothing. When coming to exercise at a gym, some sort of athletic garb is most appropriate; running shoes, shorts and a t-shirt is an ensemble that always works well, and doesn’t attract too much attention or make you uncomfortable. Keep your clothing modest and make sure your stuff is clean before you even set out for the gym. Re-wearing previously worn gym clothes is never a good idea. You’re going to sweat if you put in a good work out, that’s a given but there is a distinct difference between fresh sweat and not cleaned in two days sweat – it’s just not fair to others to have to trail in your funk. But DON’T overdo it and come reeking of cologne or perfume either; it’s a gym not a birthday bash.
There is nothing more gross and frustrating than getting to your exercise machine of choice to find it covered in someone else’s juicy efforts. Clean up after yourself: Wipe down your equipment each time you use it. No-one wants to sit in your sweat. Carry a towel with you wherever you go. Whether you are done with a cardio machine or any piece of equipment and you left behind a serious pool of sweat, please wipe it down with the towels and alcohol spray that is available at all gyms (I hope, at least).
I may not be competing for the Olympics but generally when I come to the gym it’s to work out in under an hour and get out to carry on with the rest of my life. This one gets my goat – the guy (or gal) working out on the treadmill while chatting into a cell phone. Unless it's an emergency, save your chit chat and business calls for after your workouts. Leave your mobiles and BlackBerry’s in the locker. I’ve never understood the people who come to socialize at the gym. I would think after shelling out anywhere between 6k and 10k a month in gym fees you would want to get the most out of your hard earned cash – and gossiping around the water fountain or laying on the mats to exchange the latest on the Ocampo 4 is probably not the best use of your training time methinks. Sure a few words to your fellow gm goers on how much weight they’ve lost is not misplaced but please don’t turn the gym into a kamkunji.
Ok let me fess up, I may be guilty of this one - grunting and yelling when lifting weights is completely unnecessary, and in fact can pose a safety hazard for those around you who may actually be lifting a relatively heavy load and are trying to concentrate. Note to self, keep it down. When the gym becomes very busy, as mine has been recently, it becomes difficult to get your routine completed given the traffic. If you are using a bench, and are combining with other exercises performed all over the gym or are taking long breaks between each set, share the equipment, allow others to work in on the equipment with you. These days most of my exercises are done “working in” on equipment someone is already using. If you're doing multiple sets on a machine, it's common courtesy to let others work in during your rest periods. This may not always be practical, but offer to share whenever you can. After you finish using a bar, unload your weight bar, leave it completely empty. And replace the weights on the rack instead of leaving them strewn all over the place like dirty clothes in your bedroom. Another notable faux pas and this may be personal but stop treating the changing room like your bathroom at home. And by this I mean the gym changing room may be the one place outside of the bedroom where we can flaunt what nature blessed us with (or not, which is why we’re working out in the first place) but please cover up with the towel every once in a while. It’s like watching a car crash you want to cover your eyes but you can’t help but look and then you instantly wish you hadn’t.