The good news is that right now, the monsoon season is over for the next few months! Hooray! (Keep an eye out for those post-monsoon storms and cyclones though.) However, the bad news is that that also means the sticky, humid, hot season is back. While Myanmar’s dry season is annoying for many reasons, it becomes particularly irritating when you’re heading to a job interview. After all, you’re already sweating from nervousness, and the 40-degrees heat isn’t helping. Here are some tips to help you prepare for an important job interview so that you don’t show up at your interviewer’s door looking like you just took a swim in your own sweat.
1. If you’re wearing a jacket, don’t put it on until you get to the interview
Whether it’s a suit jacket or a light cardigan, don’t put it on until you get to the interview. Even if you’re taking a taxi or driving to the office, it’s an unnecessary extra layer of clothing that will only contribute to the heat. If you’re worried about your jacket getting creased, just fold it across your arm and lay it on the car seat beside you. Trust us — a small crease will be less noticeable than armpit and back sweat stains on your jacket.
2. Drink lots of water on your way there
You should be doing this anyway when it’s hot out, but be sure to keep hydrated, especially if you know it might take you a couple of hours to get to the interview. When you sit down at the interview as well, ask for a glass of water if you’re really thirsty — not only will it keep you healthy, but taking a sip of water before answering an interview question is a great little trick to buy yourself sometime while you form your answer. (Make sure not to drink too much water though — you don’t want to be running to the bathroom as soon as the interviewer welcomes you into the office.)
3. Don’t wear thick fabrics
Also try to stay away from wearing an entirely black outfit. We’ve seen people come in for interviews in March wearing black long-sleeve turtleneck sweaters. While such a look may seem cool at home, the second you step outside, you’ll be hit with that wonderful Yangon heat and halfway to the office, you’ll be seriously considering cutting off the sleeves. Also keep in mind that getting to the interview is only half the journey. After all, you could be taking a nice and chilly air-conditioned car to the interview, only to find out that there’s been no electricity in the office all day. All of a sudden, your turtleneck is making you feel anything but cool and is in fact becoming very, very hot.
4. Carry a compact umbrella
If you’re planning on walking to the interview for most or all of the way, bring a small umbrella with you that you can put in your bag once you get to the office. It’ll save you from the scorching sun, and you can even use it as a shield against the dusty Yangon roads as cars drive by. While you could also use a hat if you don’t want the hassle of carrying around an umbrella, just remember to take it off once you get to the interview.
5. Bring a small handkerchief
No matter how well-prepared you are, you’re going to be sweating on your way to the interview, whether it’s because you’re nervous or because your taxi’s air-con is broken. You don’t want to be walking into the office with sweat dripping down your face and hands as you meet your prospective colleagues. Make sure you bring a small handkerchief or pack of tissues with you so as to dab/wipe/soak all that sweat off your face on your way to the interview and especially right before you’re about to enter the office.