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At last! You have a job interview lined up for that position you really want! Now comes the big decision which may have you more nervous and stressed than the upcoming interview itself: what to wear? Go somewhat dressy? Maybe more casual? You certainly want to look good and make a great first impression. For men and women alike, deciding what to wear to a job interview can be a pretty tough call!
To help with this decision, you’ve probably looked online for some guidance. If so, then you know the internet is full of all kinds of “expert” advice on exactly what to wear. Some sites have good, reasonable advice; others, maybe not so much. When reading the articles and blogs, keep a few caveats in mind.
Sorry, you will not find a detailed shopping list here and for good reason. I certainly do not pretend to be an expert on men’s and women’s apparel and fashion. Besides, entire books have been written on the subject. However, here is what I do know. Way too many times I have seen applicants show up to their job interviews dressed like they wanted to make a poor impression, and they did. I certainly don’t want that to happen to you.
As you know, fashions change over time, albeit usually more slowly in business. Things go in and out of style. Everyone’s taste is different. What looks good on someone else may not look good on you. Still, there are a few time-tested guidelines you should consider, and we’ll discuss those here along with some other random thoughts. Finally, we’ll end with a game plan for you to follow.
In general, it is better to overdress a bit for an interview than to underdress. True, the clothes you wear to the interview may be dressier than what you will eventually wear every day once hired. But hey, after all, this is a job interview. Hardly anyone will fault you for trying to look good. It’s a sign of respect on your part. However, showing up looking way-too-casual could be read as you made no effort and don’t care what the interviewers think.
The job search website indeed.com suggests, “Because you’ve already researched the company, you should have a sense of the workplace and what level of formality is appropriate. Look at photos on their social media sites to get a sense of what people wear at the office.” Great idea. Still, you want to look at least as good, if not better, than the people in the pictures.
If your field is somewhat traditional or conservative, go with a suit. We’re talking about an actual suit here, not just a sport coat and slacks. Many guys today say they don’t even own a suit. I’ve even seen applicants come to interviews in suits with the store tags still attached or tucked up into the sleeve (they plan to return the suit afterward). Bad idea. If you will be going to multiple job interviews or entering a field where a suit may be occasionally required, just get one. Solid navy blue or dark gray is probably the safest bet.
Since you may not yet have a job, your funds for a suit might be limited. Don’t worry, you won’t need a custom-made Armani suit. Start by checking your local department store; they always seem to be throwing sales. Another suggestion I have heard is to look around at second-hand stores or yard/tag/estate sales. You may just find yourself a very high-quality but barely-worn suit. Have it dry cleaned and then professionally altered by a tailor to fit you. You will look sharp at a very affordable price and no one will ever know where you got it.
For less conservative fields, business casual may be perfectly fine. Slacks or khakis and a long-sleeve dress shirt (tie optional) can look good. Tuck in the shirt! Otherwise, you will look sloppy, not casual. If you do decide to go with a tie, keep it plain or a basic pattern and not loud. Also, button the shirt collar and snug up the tie. A dress shirt with an open collar and loose, hanging tie gives an “I don’t care how I look” impression.
You probably already know what looks good on you. However, “looking good” is a very subjective thing. I have served on many job interview panels and here’s my simple advice: dress to look “professional” not “hot.” You’re going on a job interview, not a date. Who do you think is the most vocal and openly critical of female applicants’ attire? Yup, the women on the interview panel. Wearing a revealing, low-cut top or really short dress is the quickest way to get a “she sure doesn’t know how to dress professionally” comment from the female interviewers. It should be no surprise then when they give the applicant a low score and recommend hiring someone else. Sure, you may not like or agree with their opinion on clothing. You might even suspect they were simply jealous of your good looks. But, in the end, you’re not the one deciding who gets hired, so it’s their opinion which matters right then.
Male or female, you might think having your clothes not look or smell bad would just be plain, good old common sense. Well then, I guess I have seen a lot of applicants who lacked common sense. Got a pet? I recall one applicant whose clothing was so covered in cat hair it distracted the interviewers. Do you smoke? Don’t smoke while wearing your interview clothes! Clothing which smells like an ashtray can be physically nauseating to non-smoking interviewers. Similarly, as some interviewers are very sensitive or even allergic to certain odors, don’t overdo the cologne or perfume. Otherwise, the impression you leave will certainly be memorable, but not in a good way.
Regarding shoes, an article on the job site Monster.com says, “They can pull together your entire look or rip it apart. Your footwear is the finishing touch that seals the deal, so make sure your shoes are professional, sharp and in good condition.”
Ladies, every piece of advice I have seen says not to wear open-toed shoes. Indeed.com suggests, “For your business casual interview, wear black or brown closed-toe flats, pumps or low heels. Make sure your shoes are not scuffed, scratched or dirty, and avoid strappy sandals, flip-flops, sky-high stilettos, sneakers or brightly colored shoes.”
Men, when dressing more formally, make sure your shoes are polished and shined. You may not think having shined shoes is a big deal, but I am always amazed at the number of people who DO pay close attention to a man’s shoes. Not shined? They figure the applicant must lack attention to detail or simply doesn’t care about appearance. Also, don’t forget many of your competitors for this job (the other applicants) probably have well-shined shoes. You certainly wouldn’t want to look worse over something so simple.
Still deciding on what to wear? Here’s a game plan for you to consider.
Having your interview clothing decisions made and addressed early on will help relieve a huge amount of stress. This means one less thing for you to worry about or clutter your mind. Knowing that you’re looking good will give you more confidence and allow you to focus on the other aspects of the interview!
Agree? Disagree? Feel free to leave a comment and share your experience or thoughts!
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