How to Dress for a Job Interview
This page provides general tips for both men and women, regarding
how to dress for job interviews. Please keep in mind that this
writer is not a fashion consultant, but rather an experienced interviewer
(and interviewee) from the Silicon
Valley corporate environment, who's seen it all.
Job Interview Dress Tips for Men and Women
The photos displayed below and on subsequent pages are just a
few examples of how to dress for a job interview; they're not set
in concrete.
As mentioned on page 1, a good
rule to follow is to dress for interviews a step or two above how
employers ordinarily would expect you to dress for your occupation,
job title and the environment in which you work (office, factory,
outdoors, etc.).
Clothing
Avoid wearing outdated styles for interviews and worse, trying
to look "hip" by dressing too young for your age; dress
modernly, but conservatively, for your age group.
Also avoid bright, flashy colors and patterns for interviews;
solid navy blue or medium to dark gray is conservatively best for
suits, slacks, skirts, sweaters, sport coats and blazers. Thin,
low-contrast, vertical pinstripes are okay, if modern; never wear
horizontal stripes to interviews, modern or not.
Solid black might look like you've dressed for a funeral instead
of job interview. But, it depends on the other colors you wear
with it; so, use your own judgment. However, never wear a black
shirt or blouse with other black clothing ("black on black")
to an interview; otherwise, you'll look like one of the bad guys
instead of one the good guys!
Don't wear leather or faux-leather garments; neither are as dressy
as cloth garments and might send the wrong signals. It's okay for
belts, shoes and briefcases though.
Dress in comfortable clothing for interviews, that doesn't need
distracting adjustments when you sit, stand or lean forward. In
other words, don't wear clothing that is so low-cut, short, tight
or loose, that you must tug or otherwise fiddle with to be comfortable;
or worse, to avoid revealing body parts or undergarments.
Speaking of revealing, avoid interview dress that your interviewer
might interpret as sexy; otherwise, you might land or lose the
job for all the wrong reasons.
Clean and press all of your interview clothing or have it professionally
done.
Jewelry
Keep jewelry to a minimum and avoid that which distractively jingles
or swings when you move. Definitely leave the "gang-banger"
neck chains at home.
A 2008 study at Texas State University indicated that most workers
of age 18-24, even those who have body piercings themselves, would
rather not work with coworkers who have visible piercings,
particularly in situations of face-to-face contact with customers.
You can bet that many older workers feel the same, regardless of
the situation.
Subsequently, you'd be wise to de-emphasize visible body piercings
before job interviews, by removing the associated jewelry. We'll
get to earrings later.
Grooming and Hygiene
Use tweezers or a trimming device to remove visible hairs that
are growing from where we all wish they didn't, such as out of
your nostrils and ears. (It takes only one hair sticking out of
a nostril or ear to gross out some interviewers.) If you have thick
or bushy eyebrows, consider plucking or trimming them.
Practice good hygiene: Clean and trim your fingernails (or get
a manicure), shower, shave appropriately for your gender, brush
your teeth, gargle with mouthwash, apply underarm deodorant, and
comb or brush your hair.
Fragrance
Avoid wearing strong perfume or cologne. Fragrance is a matter
of personal preference and your interviewer might dislike your
choice. It's best to have no odor at all!
Accessories
Never wear flip-flops to job interviews, even though they're trendy
at this writing. Besides the fact that flip-flops are inappropriate
interview dress, period, companies are banning them in their dress
code policies for noise and safety reasons. Wear polished dress
shoes instead. More about dress shoes follows this page.
Carry your paperwork (resume
and cover letter copies, references list, job-application
info, etc.) with a pen and notepad in a nice briefcase or
portfolio, preferably one that is conservatively color coordinated
with your clothing (such as a black or gray briefcase). This
interview-dress accessory makes you look organized and professional.
Other
The Texas State study mentioned above also indicated that workers
age 18-24, including those who have tattoos themselves, are likely
to consider visible tattoos to be unacceptable at work.
Again, you can bet that many older workers feel the same. So, if
you have one or more visible tattoos, you'd be wise to cover them
as best you can with clothing, before job interviews.
Empty your pockets of bulging and jingling items, such as your
cell phone and coins. (Turn off your cell phone for interviews!)
If you attend more than one interview at the same company on different
days, then wear a different outfit to each. If your clothing budget
is tight, bein' as how you're looking for a job and all, then at
least wear a different shirt or blouse.
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