This year is the first time most of us have ever had to wear a face mask. It takes getting used to. It can be very warm under the mask, it feels like you can’t breathe, and it can be very uncomfortable. As the months have passed, we have found the right style and material for our masks that works best for us. Now that many people must wear a mask all day at work, are we wearing it correctly and how do we successfully communicate and handle job interviews with a mask covering half of our face?
According to the CDC, the correct way to wear your mask is as follows:
- Wash your hands before putting on your mask
- Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
- Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face
- Make sure you can breathe easily
It is very important to make sure you have your nose covered. Most Covid infections enter the body through the nose.
When wearing a mask, it can affect your voice. Make sure when speaking you increase your volume enough to overcome the muffled sound, pause between statements, enunciate as clear as possible and try to add emotion to your voice. Others can’t see your mouth so it might be difficult for them to tell if you are happy, sad, angry, etc. It is like talking on the phone. The other person can’t see your face, so you must show emotion through your words, tone, and eyes.
If you are interviewing in person for a job, many of the old standard protocols have changed. You can’t shake hands now, you will not be sitting with a group at a small table or in a small room, you will probably not go out for a meal or drink with the prospective employer. Some interviews are done completely online with Zoom or other software, some start with a phone call, then might go to online or in-person, others are still in person but maybe outside or socially distanced in a large room. Since things are changing very quickly, it is best to follow what your interviewer does. If the protocol is to use sanitizer before and or after entering room, follow their lead. Make sure you are comfortable in your mask and it is clean. If it is tight and you know you will not be able to wear it for an hour or so, please wear a different one. If you play with the mask and or touch it often, it is not sanitary, and it could make the interviewer uncomfortable.
Wearing a mask is new for all of us, and we are adjusting to the “new normal”. Best of luck going back to work or starting a new job. If you need a temporary job or looking for a new career, please let us know. McCallion Staffing is here to help.
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