How to dress for a job interview
March 6, 2012|employees, How to find a job, Job interview, Tips At work| No comments yet
Your resume is the most important piece of information you can give to a prospective employer. This information lets him know that you have the experience, the drive and the intelligence to do the job he’s hiring for. But when it comes to conducting an actual interview, most employers base at least some of their hiring decisions on how you look when you walk in the door. Make sure your clothing is appropriate for the occasion. In a tight job market, any little advantage may be enough to get you the job. Take advantage of this fact and look the part when you go to a job interview.
Begin with scrupulous personal hygiene. Shower, shampoo and brush your teeth. Fix your hair in a neat and uncomplicated style. Avoid colognes and perfumes; some employers may be allergic to them or find them offensive. Do wear antiperspirant deodorant.
Consider the job for which you are applying when choosing your clothing for an interview. Interviewing for a job in a bookstore is much different from from interviewing for a position running a bank. A good rule of thumb is to look at the average wardrobe of the person doing the job you’ll be doing, and dress one or two steps up from there. This may mean nice khaki slacks and a Polo shirt for a theme park summer job, or your best business suit and briefcase for an office position.
Pay attention to your shoes. Wear the best pair of conservative leather shoes you own, and polish them until they are clean and shiny. Every employer has a certain quirk he bases decisions on; a surprising number of them name the state of an applicant’s shoes as one of them.
Keep jewelry to a bare minimum. Wear a watch, a wedding ring or small ring and very small earrings, at the most. If you have facial piercings and you are interviewing for a more conservative position, remove them or replace them with clear plastic placers. The subject will most likely come up, so be prepared with an answer as to whether you are willing to permanently remove them for the sake of getting the job.
Wear clothing that is freshly washed or dry cleaned. Don’t try to get away with wearing anything on the second day. You want this to be your best impression. Don’t wear your interview clothing for half a day before showing up for the interview, if you can possibly help it. Save the outfit until right before you leave, then change your clothes into the fresh interview wardrobe.
Choose conservative colors when picking out an interview outfit. Bright colors and splashy prints will come across as not as serious as dark colors and solids. Wear black, navy blue or charcoal gray. If you feel a need for a splash of color, go as far as hunter green or burgundy in an accent piece. If your clothing looks almost boring and forgettable, you’ve probably chosen exactly the right outfit. After all, you want them to remember you, not what you wore.
