Bring your smile to your interview!

From: John Wavle Pittsburgh Job Search Examiner

A warm smile will start your interview off on the right note.A
few years back I was interviewing in Pittsburgh with a well funded
early stage technology company. I initially had a phone interview with
the VP of Sales for a Sales Management position. The next step was a
face to face meeting. The Vice President and I seemed to hit it off
quite well. At the conclusion of our interview, the VP asked me to come
with him to meet the company's CEO. As
we were introduced, we shook hands and the CEO invited me to sit down.
  The first words out of the CEO's mouth after the pleasantries were
"you've passed the test, as far as I'm concerned, you're hired!" After
I composed myself, I asked him what I had done to impress him. He told
me he had reviewed my resume and already discussed bringing me on board
with the Vice President. What convinced him actually happened as we
first met. I gave the CEO a warm smile as we shook hands and said
hello. Had I not smiled at some point in my conversation with the CEO,
I doubt I would have received a job offer.Granted,
a smile will not earn you a job offer by itself, but it will start
things off on the right note. It lets the interviewer know several
things.     

• You are comfortable meeting new people


• You deserve to be in the interview


• You are comfortable with the interviewing process


• You are confident in your abilities


• You belong there and deserve to be hired

I
have not seen the CEO or Vice President in a while, but I will never
forget the importance the CEO placed on a simple warm smile.