What To Wear To Your Interview

The adage about first impressions is true, and on a job interview you do not have the luxury of time to correct those impressions. What type of job you are interviewing for will largely dictate your dress, but for all jobs neat, clean, and put together is the order of the day.

If you are interviewing for a professional position as in a corporate environment or sales, dress conservatively. The company wants to know that you respect who they are. Men should wear dark colored suits of navy blue, black, or gray and a subdued tie. Women should also wear a suit, either pant or skirt. The colors should again be conservative as with men, but neutral tones can also be worn as the darker colors can sometimes make women look too severe. Be sure to avoid strips, check patterns, or bright colors like red – anything out of the ordinary. The suit does not have to be the most expensive in town but it does have to be clean and pressed and fit well.

Accessorizing your outfit will give the pulled together appearance that you need, so wearing jewelry is recommended. Again, think conservative. Rings for both men and women should not exceed two, as in wedding band or set and a second piece like a class/company ring or small additional piece. Make sure that your watch is of decent quality (no Velcro!) and in good working order or don’t wear one at all. Bracelets are acceptable for both sexes, with one for men and no more than two for women. Earrings and necklaces, however, should not be worn by men and should be conservative for women. Never wear any other type of piercing to your interview, like a tongue ring. Avoid any jewelry that is flashy, large, or could be offensive. Also, I would highly recommend not displaying any religious jewelry. If it is on a necklace, simply tuck it under your shirt for the interview.

Shoes need to also be conservative, so women should avoid those 4 inch and above heels. Men should wear black or brown dress shoes. The shoes should always be leather and clean and polished. Lizard, snake, and alligator skin shoes and boots can be worn if they are black or brown and in perfect condition, however the preference is plain leather. Do not wear any multi-colored or jewelry bedecked shoes.

For your interview, your hairstyle should be appropriate for the position. Mostly, it should be clean and neat with no outlandish styles. Women should not wear their hair pulled too tightly or left too loose. Men should make sure that their hair, beard, and mustache are trimmed neatly.

Cologne and perfumes can sometimes be overbearing and can cause problems if your interviewer is allergic. The best recommendation is to not wear any. Use a perfumed soap when you bathe before going or use a lightly perfumed lotion on your hands instead. If you are a smoker, it is not advisable to smoke in the car on your way or you will reek of cigarettes or cigars. Wash your hands before the interview and use a breath mint to cover up the odor.

Lastly, cover up any tattoos, if possible, and make sure that your fingernails are trimmed and clean. Women should wear a conservative nail polish, if desired.

If the job that you are interviewing for is more on the creative side, as in the arts or publishing, then you have a little leeway with all of these rules. You can wear brighter colors and men may be able to forgo the tie. However, do not get carried away. Clothes that are too tight and skirts that are too short will not land the job.

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