Always Expect the Unexpected

Always expect the unexpected, to paraphrase Oscar Wilde.
Imagine turning up for a planned appointment and you feel like you have stepped into a holiday resort!

This happened to me a few years ago, on a hot sunny summer afternoon. It took me by surprise as it was unexpected and I felt seriously over dressed for the occasion.  But, business is business and I was there to take a vacancy brief.
I took my own advice and prepared for the meeting as I would expect any interviewee to do.: putting on my best suit, pressed blouse, coiffed hair, polished stilettos (*sigh* if only I could wear those now!!!) with notes in my briefcase. 
Arriving on time to the appointment, I was greeted  by a very nice and smiley receptionist in a bright Hawaiian patterned dress with flowers in her hair, a garland around her neck and pictures of palm trees behind her, buckets and spades, beach balls, employees milling about reception in shorts with what looked like Pina Coladas, sandals, crop tops, all ready for the beach.
I was clearly overdressed, it unsettled me and I felt embarrassed. I decided I was not going to be put off by the unexpected but embrace it. As a potential recruitment supplier, I had done my job by being professionally dressed for a meeting. 
Embracing the unexpected had presented me an opportunity to join them as best I could. Making an excuse to return to the car, I grabbed my sunglasses, loosened my hair, rolled my sleeves up, tied my blouse at the waist and went back in leaving the jacket in the car. The kind receptionist smiled, handed me a flower garland and a mocktail. 
There! I was one of them! The export director apologised for not letting me know but was impressed I’d bothered to try and join in the fun and I was still appropriately dressed for a meeting that went well. 

So when preparing for an interview or a meeting, the advice remains the same: 
- Do as much research as possible on the company, their markets, their products, the role before the meeting, 
- Study their website and know it. 
- Review the job description and make sure the skills are there to do the job 
- Think about where the skills may be lacking and how to overcome them. 
- Think of interesting questions to ask the interviewer. 
- Know this is about finding out about the employer too and understand if it a good fit for the chose career path. 
- Take relevant material if needed such as a portfolio, examples of work done, notes. 
- Not be put off if the unexpected happens. 

And finally, 
- Dress appropriately as for interviews, as if you were meeting a customer. 

Post pandemic, the dress codes have been relaxed; stilettos have been ditched for quality trainers or flat shoes, ties may no longer be required and sports jackets are in. But the premise remains the same, always turn up professionally dressed for a meeting, an interview or a seminar. 
First impressions always count. 

Susan Wilson, Director

Maythorne-Exportjobsonline