THE JOB INTERVIEWa bit too relaxed a posture. It sends a subtext of "I don't want to
get involved."
Avoid nervous gestures, playing with a pen or pencil or any
other object, tapping the feet, drumming the fingers. A certain
amount of nervous tension is inevitable and even beneficial. It
will keep you on your toes, alert and wary, but don't express
yourself in nervous, repetitive gestures.THE RUG AND JUG RULE
A member of the Los Angeles Management Counselors Association
suggests that before you reach the office where the interview takes
place, you should study the subtext of the company that is interview-
ing you. You can pick up clues from the surroundings as to what
sort of firm it is. If the company is in the country or suburbs,
notice the condition of the building. Are there weeds growing in
front of it? Are the grounds well kept? Are the buildings properly
maintained? In the city, see what sort of building the offices are
in. Are you treated indifferently by the receptionist, or does he
or she act as if you were expected?
What sort of attitude is there among the employees? While
you are waiting, see if the receptionist feels free to chat with
you as well as with other employees. A general rule of thumb is
that if the subtext of the buildings, offices, housekeeping, and
employees is good, the odds are that business is good, too.
The president of a well-known career-planning agency suggests
that "the job level of the manager who interviews you may be
indicated by whether he or she has a rug on the floor and a
water jug on the desk. Most big corporations have a rug-and-jug
rule. If that person has to make do with vinyl and goes to the