I once worked with a woman who hugged everyone. It didn’t matter if she had never seen you before or you were her best friends for years. You couldn’t escape her grasp and full, hug-around-the-neck greeting. Standing there rigid didn’t deter her. Not hugging back didn’t offend her. It was just her way. The only thing that stopped the hugs was a stern warning from HR about possible sexual harassment claims.
Work environments are becoming more casual, but there are still some rules of etiquette that hold true at any business or company. You may become more relaxed once you’re on the job, but hugging everyone because you want to be authentic isn’t the best tactic for an interview. Here are six rules of etiquette that won’t fail you at your next interview.
- Handshake, not a hug. Offer your hand for a handshake when first meeting and at the end of the interview. It doesn’t matter if you are a man or woman, young or old. It’s the professional thing to do. It’s possible to create such a rapport in an interview that by the time it’s over, you feel like you’ve been with your BFF (best friend forever). Best friends hug, right? It’s possible to lose the good feeling from the interview with a parting hug. It can give the wrong message, or be the final test to see if you are really as professional as you seem.
- Be polite and respectful to everyone. From the moment you walk in the door or off the elevator, you’re being interviewed. It’s easy to spot an applicant. They are the stranger dressed better than everyone else in the office, looking uncomfortable and a little lost.
- Don’t get personal. Keep the conversation on the job, and avoid asking personal questions, like if your interviewer is married, or how many children they have or what kind of perfume (after shave) they are wearing. The same goes for your personal life. The fact that you are divorced because of a cheating spouse or going into detail about your vacation to Jamaica is a little more information than a stranger needs to know.
- Stand when someone else comes into the room. If you are seated and another manager comes into the room to join the interview, stand and offer a handshake. Standing shows respect and puts you on a level playing field for the introductory handshake and sets the tone for the rest of the interview.
- Turn off your cell phone. That’s right. Not on vibrate. Even though no one can hear your phone, reacting to the vibration shows you’re not totally focused on the interviewer and the job. Don’t put you phone on the desk, your lap or in plain sight, either.
- Always say “thank you.” After the interview you may want the job or run out the door as fast as you can. Regardless of your feelings, take the time to sincerely thank the interviewer for her time, the opportunity to interview for the job and for being considered for the position. Follow up later with a handwritten note, which will set you apart from the rest of the crowd.
What other rules of etiquette have worked for you? Share your experiences in the Comments Section below.
Mary Nestor-Harper, SPHR, is a consultant, blogger, motivational speaker and freelance writer for BusinessWorkForce.com. Based in Savannah, GA, her work has appeared in Training magazine, Training & Development magazine, Supervision, BiS Magazine and The Savannah
Morning News. When she’s not writing, she enjoys singing with the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus and helping clients reinvent their careers for today’s job market. You can read more of her blogs at businessworkforceblog.com and view additional job postings on Nexxt.
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