European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 27, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Job Hunting hints from nose hair to shoe style by j. King Cruger Mediterranean Bureau military personnel returning to the civilian work Force wont necessarily be bidding Farewell to uniforms Quot just As each Branch of the military has its required uniform so does each organization. It is important to research the company where you will be interviewing to find out what the employees Are wearing Quot says Ada e. Martin an air Force transition assistance team member at Zaragoza a Spain. Quot visit the company where you will interview during employee arrival and departure times. Scope out the company s annual report or brochures for photographs of employees to determine what the appropriate attire is. Remember following unspoken rules of appropriate organizational attire Wilt not guarantee you a Job but breaking those rules will count heavily against you Quot Martin tells those taking her grooming class. The . Sector of Zaragoza a will close in september and air Force personnel there As elsewhere Are affected by the military draw Down. Some will soon find themselves out of work. Classes like the one Martin gives at the base family support Center Are intended to help personnel move to civilian life. Martin 44, a former makeup consultant is a family support Center employee who has made a Hobby of grooming. Quot first impressions Are lasting impressions Quot she tells her transition assistance classes Quot look professional confident and  a Job seeker should convince the interviewer that he or she belongs in the organization and is ready to go to work says Martin a resident of Eaton Colo. A show respect. Respect is what you convey with you attitude your grooming and your clothing. Done to kick the interviewer in his or her biases. You want the interviewer to remember you As a qualified and immediately available resource Quot Martin says. The initial impression a Job candidate gives determines How the interviewer treats the candidate during the rest of the interview according to Martin the wife of an air Force photographer Quot How you appear to your interviewer readers action line Ada e. Martin a transition assistance program Counselor at Zaragoza a Spain conducts a seminar. A amps Dave Casey encompasses three important areas a grooming clothing and attitude body language Quot Martin says. Cleanliness is essential she said and that includes nails hair makeup clothing and accessories. Quot hair should be Cut in a fashionable style. No Avant Garde styles Quot Martin warns Quot experts recommend that women with very Long hair Wear their hair up in a close to the head style Quot Quot be clean shaven Quot Martin tells men. Quot the wearing of superfluous hair such As beards and mustaches is generally not recommended. However if you must Wear them they should be carefully trimmed. Quot remove obvious nasal and ear hair examine your face in the Mirror and Check for unsightly Eyebrow or facial hair. If you have a particularly hairy Chest shave your neck a Little lower than usual Quot Martin advises Martin tells women that their makeup should be current and Quot not the kind you wore when you were in High school Quot whether candidates Are interviewing for White Collar or Blue Collar jobs the clothes must be appropriate to the location Martin stresses Quot if you interview at a construction site or in the Field and you May be asked to perform your tasks bring additional clothing if that is necessary. Trying out for a construction Job could justify jeans but they must be clean without holes tears or stains Quot she says. However she strongly recommends against wearing Brand new clothing because applicants May be uncomfortable wearing it. Quot however if clothing is new be sure to remove tags  Titch vents and  shoes should be of Good Quality Well polished and in Good condition she says. Quot done to blow off this aspect of your dress Quot Martin warns. Quot interviewers will notice worn scuffed or inappropriate shoes and never Wear Tennis running or athletic shoes to a Job interview Quot body language is extremely important Martin says and Job seekers should not consider the interview As the Only time they will be under observation. Quot put Energy in your walk. Greet the receptionist or Secretary in a warm Friendly manner. Positive body movement will project a confident dynamic image. Everyone gets stage fright. Just make sure it does no to get you. Fight Back with calmness Quot Martin says. Quot use your mind to make your body  the interview Job Hunters should turn the tables on Job interviewers by asking questions of their own says Tamara Bowman who runs the transition assistance program at Zaragoza a Spain. Quot if you have no questions the interviewer May think you have no interest in the Job Quot Bowman said. Bowman s advice for preparing for an interview a make a trial run to the interview site to make sure you know where it is. A take a resume even if you be already sent one. A take a list of at least four references at least one living in the states preferably the same one As the employer. A take pens pencils paper and copies of correspondence Between you and the company. A done to talk about salary at the first interview if there will be More than one. A done to take rejection personally. Quot you May be Over qualified they May have decided not to fill the position or they May have hired from within Quot Bowman  reconciliation an option for All cd a i  things if different this year regarding reconciliation of living quarters allowance la first of All is reconciliation optional if we choose to go through the process what conversion rate did the civilian personnel office use for our la 1991 ? 1990 s rate was 1 86 Marks which seemed High to most of us that in a sure will have an influence on whether or not one wants to go through the reconciliation process also in be heard that housing allowances Are going Down this year with the drop in the Mark rate that does t seem to make sense for those of us living on the Economy i m not sure if procedures Are different for the different classifications of civilian employees but if the Are i am interested m to those affecting Dodds employees any a formation you can give me on this in would Clear up questions for Many of us and would be greatly appreciated Gall s. Edwards bad nauheim Germany kor Jane Wilson personnel management specialist u5areur Headquarters office of the Deputy chief of staff personnel civilian personnel division replies the question you asked regards the change that made annual la reconciliation an option for employees serviced by Usa eur pos. You also asked what conversion rate will be used whether procedures will differ for different classifications of employees such As Dodds employee Sand whether la rates will be going Down for 1992. For employees in Germany the annual conversion rate applicable to pay year 1991 was 1.61 Marks the 1990 rate was 1 59 Marks. Reconciliation procedures Are the same for All employees. La maximum rates established by the department of state will As usual be adjusted up and Down throughout the year based on changes in conversion rates. As Long As employees accurately report expenses the biweekly adjustment of la payments for currency changes and changes in the state department s maximum rates should ensure that employees la payment will be As close As possible to their actual  write us readers action line is the readers a court of last resort Quot striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or questions about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apoate 09211. All letters must be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to our readers Page 16 a the stars and stripes Friday. March 27, 1992