Here's a quick, bolder outfit idea for an interview. I used this one for my second interview, after wearing a suit to the first one. Since my second interview was slightly more relaxed, (as we went out to lunch), this business casual outfit did the trick! I wanted something that stood out - professional, but memorably classic.
This top was purchased at Kohls and was on clearance for $30. It is a Chaps Classics blouse. I rolled up the sleeves so it sat before the elbow. The fabric is 100% cotton and does not require ironing. It was comfortable yet thick enough so I did not have to wear an additional under shirt.
I had a hard time finding a professional navy blue skirt but I finally found this adorable piece at White House / Black Market. This was a bit more expensive, ($70.20), but it really brought everything together. The buttons on here are silver and the solid navy blue helped blend and slim with the vertical stripes from the blouse.
And then, I bought red heels. When people ask me about heels, I praise this brand. Payless has a line of heels called Comfort Plus. They are the best heels I have ever worn. I purchased a black pair last summer for my internship and they were amazing. I could run in them, carry heavy things, walk long distances, and they simply never wore out on me. I now have four pairs of them in different colors - black, beige, red, and blue.While I did pay $27.99 for the red pair, it was a Bogo sale so I was able to purchase the blue heels for only $5.
To help bring out the red heels, I bought a small, red clutch from Discovery Clothing. It was $9.99. Discovery Clothing is a little clothing store in the Fox Valley area in Wisconsin that has great prices for clothes and accessories. The catch is that there are no dressing rooms, but they do allow item returns.
For the rest of my accessories, I just wore a pair of pearl earrings.
And here is a quick view of how it looks together. Sorry for the picture quality!
All of my furniture has finally been delivered! No more sleeping on a air mattress, or sitting on the floor. My open loft apartment can finally take shape, but buying furniture won't make this place feel homey by itself. Simple planning and coordination can make your first apartment feel grown-up and classy. Here are my four apartment decorating tips.
One Room at a Time
Keep your mind focused on one room at a time. Thinking about the whole project can cause you to be indecisive and slow the process. Having a starting base room can help when you begin the next, so you do not have clashing colors or too similar of themes. I have three, "separated" rooms. The main floor, bathroom, and bedroom.
Color
Pick a main color for a room and perhaps one or two complimentary colors. For an example, I chose green as my bathroom's main decor color. My complimentary colors are a taupe brown and white. This helped me select decorative items, plus it differentiates this room from others in the apartment.
Keep it Simple
Cannot stress this enough. As a first time apartment leasee, this helps with decorating and not going broke. I only have a few items out in each room, but each enhances the space. A couple examples I have are the pillows on the sofa, the dinning place mats, flower vase (soon to be filled), and the orchid flower in the bathroom. Do not be afraid to hit up discount stores like Goodwill or Savers to find decorative pieces for your rooms.
Another tip to keeping it simple and looking good is cleaning. Cleaning helps keep the space fresh and inviting.
Highlight a Signature Item
I mentioned the orchid flower above and want to point out that this was my main item for the bathroom. It is where my eyes go every time I step inside the room. Having one or two bold items directs guests to the colors and maybe even the theme of your room. Try having at least one room with an item like this. A signature item can also be large. My sofa is the signature item for the living space and that is why I have pillows to accompany it. Hopefully soon I can purchase some art for the walls!
Yesterday I had an interview with a company for my dream job, and I have to say I kicked butt! Every question was answered smoothly and I walked out of there feeling like a champ. My only wish is that I had a microphone so I could have done this. . .
It feels good to walk out of a company confident and proud, but how can you feel this good walking in?
Part of it is your prep work. Did you research the company? Have you practiced answering common interview questions? Ones like, what is your greatest strength? Why do you want to work for this company? Etc. These will be in every interview you ever do. However, other questions will be asked that pertain to your industry. Look up questions in your field and go through them. For me, I looked up Event Planning Interview Questions and worked through all of these questions - Event Planning Interview Questions.This helped so much. I could tell my interviewer was actually on this site because she started asking all of these questions, word for word, with a few subtractions. It made me feel confident and my answers formed around that emotion.
Be sure to practice answering these questions out loud and maybe in front of a mirror. Doing this a couple of times will enhance your communication skills and help the interview to flow better, instead of stumbling for an answer.
Now, the day of your interview can be nerve racking. You do not want to lose confidence in yourself and all of the work you put into practicing those questions. While getting your suit on in the morning, here are a couple of things you can do to get pumped.
1. Listen to music. Not slow music. Maybe something like "The Pretender" by Foo-Fighters, or for other ladies out there, "Salute" by Little Mix. You could make an interview prep playlist.
2. Watch inspirational videos. I have a couple of them with encouraging messages. Yesterday, I chose to watch Amy Poehler at Harvard. (If you couldn't tell, I love everyone from Parks and Recreation.)
3. My final piece of advise is to change the way you view an interview. While a company is trying to see if you are a good match for them, you should see if they are compatible with you. These are people you will be working with, so you do not want to be somewhere you hate the culture. Plus,the interview is your first inside look at the company. Do you like how they treat clients? Is the work space organized? Are they acting appropriately? This mentality reverses a little power your way, plus you will start asking better questions. Your interest will be genuine.
In regards to my interview yesterday, it went extremely well. I loved the company and its leader. They have a great atmosphere and are expanding. Unfortunately, I will not know for about two more weeks if I made it to the next stage. I believe I have a good chance of making it. Please keep your fingers crossed for me and I'll be sure to keep you guys up-to-date on my job search!
Comment below if you have concerns about how to answer a question. What are your biggest worries before an interview?
Do you need help with interviewing? I would love to help set up mock interviews with anyone via Skype! Just send me a message to set up a time!
Here's a quick, bolder outfit idea for an interview. I used this one for my second interview, after wearing a suit to the first one. Since my second interview was slightly more relaxed, (as we went out to lunch), this business casual outfit did the trick! I wanted something that stood out - professional, but memorably classic. 
To help bring out the red heels, I bought a small, red clutch from Discovery Clothing. It was $9.99. Discovery Clothing is a little clothing store in the Fox Valley area in Wisconsin that has great prices for clothes and accessories. The catch is that there are no dressing rooms, but they do allow item returns.
