How to Dress for a Job Interview
With each successive generation since the 1950's, Americans have
become more casual in the way they dress. It's now acceptable to
wear blue jeans and sneakers to nice restaurants, revealing outfits
to nightclubs, and baggy cargo shorts and flip-flops to school.
It's even acceptable these days to dress somewhat casually for
work. But, that's after you've landed the job. Unless you're interviewing
as a roadie for a rock 'n roll band, how you should dress for a
job interview hasn't changed much, especially in the corporate
environment.
About Job Interview Dress
Despite style changes, dressing appropriately to interview at
most corporations still means dressing up conservatively and the
old adage "dress for success" still applies.
Whether right or wrong, the fact of the matter is that, as a corporate
job applicant, you will be judged right off the bat by how you
dress for an interview. You might not even get the chance to sell
yourself, if you're not properly dressed for an interview when
you walk though the door.
Even if you know that the company dress code is casual, dress
up for an interview anyway. It shows professionalism and respect,
and more importantly, that you know how to dress for a job interview.
The good news is that, these days, dressing "up" conservatively
for an interview doesn't necessarily mean wearing a business suit.
That's thanks to "dress-down Fridays" followed by full-time
casual business dress, both initiated by baby boomers.
Whether for a corporate job or another, 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. Natch, if employers would expect
you to dress for work in business suits, that doesn't mean you
ought to wear a tux or formal gown to interviews; simply dress
as professionally as you would for work.
If you're a young job applicant, you'd be wise to consider
that one or more of your interviewers are likely to be baby
boomers (or close enough). What looks cool to your generation
as interview dress might not look nearly as cool to interviewers
of the boomer generation, even though boomers initiated dress-down
Fridays. In other words, consider that you might essentially
interview with your disapproving parents! |
On their Web sites, some companies indicate what's appropriate
to wear to work, while others even indicate how to dress for interviews.
So, be sure to check for office or interview dress codes, at the
Web sites of the companies with which you've scheduled interviews.
It's a good idea to research companies
anyway before interviews, and their Web sites are typically good
places to start.
If a company doesn't provide an office or interview dress code
on its Web site, it doesn't hurt to contact the HR department or
the contact person in the job ad, to ask how to dress appropriately
for an interview. In fact, if the person you contact turns out
to be your interviewer, he or she might be impressed that you took
the time to find out.
Read on for more of how to dress for a job interview in the USA
(it might differ in other countries). First up are general job
interview dress tips for both men and women, followed by tips specifically
for women and then men. Examples of appropriate interview dress
are displayed in photos.
Good luck with your interview!
|
About
