Lint? Who would have thought ...

Last week when one of my clients was driving to her interview, she looked down and realized her suit jacket was full of lint. She stated when she was getting dressed for the interview, her mind was so focused on how she would respond to certain questions, that she hadn't even thought about checking the appearance of her jacket as she grabbed it from her closet. After she noticed the lint, she thought about stopping at a convenience store to pick up masking tape or packing tape as a quick fix to remove the lint, but unfortunately she did not have enough time.

One never knows what will happen the day of an interview, but here are some tips to help you avoid what happened to my client:

1. Always lay out what you are going to wear the night before and make sure it is lint free.
2. Get up 15 minutes early so you don't feel rushed in the morning.
3. If you have a jacket that collects lint easily, keep a lint roller or some type of tape (masking or packing) in the car -- just in case.
4. When you arrive at your destination, look at your appearance in the car's mirror before getting out (ink mark on your face, something in your teeth, etc.).

Finally, the situation of lint on a jacket also brings up another dilemma which a job candidate may face: a very wrinkled blouse, jacket, etc. Be sure when you choose the outfit for your interview, that you choose one that does not wrinkle. The goal is to look as professional as possible and make a great first impression.

Are you wondering what happened to my client? Even though her jacket was full of lint, she was called back for a second interview. She ended up declining this second interview (because she deemed the position was not a good fit), but stated she learned from this experience and wanted to make sure that others did not face the same dilemma she did.

About the author: As a certified interview coach, Connie Hauer coaches clients on interview preparation, provides strategies on how to stand out from the competition, and helps clients polish their interviewing skills so they feel more confident. (Learn More)