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How to Dress for an Interview

By Alison Doyle, Guide

The first impression you make on a potential employer is the most important one. The first judgment an interviewer makes is going to be based on how you look and what you are wearing. That's why it's always important to dress professionally for a job interview, even if the work environment is casual.

What's the appropriate dress code for an interview? You'll want that first impression to be not just a good one, but, a great one. The candidate dressed in a suit and tie is going to make a much better impression than the candidate dressed in scruffy jeans and a t-shirt.

How to Dress for an Interview:

Men's Interview Attire

•Suit (solid color - navy or dark grey)

•Long sleeve shirt (white or coordinated with the suit)

•Belt

•Tie

•Dark socks, conservative leather shoes

•Little or no jewelry

•Neat, professional hairstyle

•Limit the aftershave

•Neatly trimmed nails

•Portfolio or briefcase

Women's Interview Attire

•Suit (navy, black or dark grey)

•The suit skirt should be long enough so you can sit down comfortably

•Coordinated blouse

•Conservative shoes

•Limited jewelry (no dangling earrings or arms full of bracelets)

•No jewelry is better than cheap jewelry

•Professional hairstyle

•Neutral pantyhose

•Light make-up and perfume

•Neatly manicured clean nails

•Portfolio or briefcase

What Not to Bring to the Interview

•Gum

•Cell phone

•Ipod

•Coffee or soda

•If you have lots of piercings, leave some of your rings at home (earrings only, is a good rule)

•Cover tattoos

Interview Attire Tips

•Before you even think about going on an interview, make sure you have appropriate interview attire and everything fits correctly.

•Get your clothes ready the night before, so you don't have to spend time getting them ready on the day of the interview.

•If your clothes are dry clean only, take them to the cleaners after an interview, so they are ready for next time.

•Polish your shoes.

•Bring a breath mint and use it before you enter the building.

Dress to Impress

Dressing for Interview Success

Dressing for Interview Success

Whether you are interviewing for the top job of a Fortune 500 firm or a local company, what you wear to the interview will be judged equally with your background. When selecting your look for the interview, “Dress to Impress” is always the best practice.

When we talk about interview dress it is not our intent to be uncompromising. But whether you like it or not, your appearance and what you wear to an interview is a big part of the job search process. A significant part of any hiring decision is based on nonverbal elements in the interview — your handshake, eye contact, body language, posture, listening skills, clothing, grooming and accessories.

The Power of a Good First Impression

People make assumptions about professional credibility and potential performance based upon your appearance. Regardless of your knowledge or expertise, it is very difficult to overcome a poor first impression. Many employers interpret your appearance in terms of what you know about the world around you and the attention you give to detail. To be successful, research and practice for the interview and carefully plan the professional image you want to project. If you come to an interview dressed professionally, you will feel a sense of confidence and others will sense your self-assurance.

Interview Style on a Limited Budget?

One or two well-chosen business suits will serve you all the way to the first day on the job and beyond. Then, when you are making some money (and have a chance to see what the standard "dress" is for the company), you can begin to round out your wardrobe. For now, no one will fault you for wearing alternating sharp outfits each time you interview. If you desire some variety within a limited budget, you might consider varying your shirt / blouse / tie / accessories as a simple way to change your look without breaking your wallet.

Dess to impress in an interview

Crystal R. Reid

Showing up to a job interview with a skirt short enough to double for a wide belt would probably get you the wrong kind of jobs. Wearing dress pants below your rear is also not the way to showcase your positive attributes to an interviewer.

With graduation coming up in May, many students will be attending interviews out in the career circuit. As a hiring manager at a local retail store, I've seen a lot of the 'do's' and 'don'ts' of interview attire. While the above two definite 'don'ts' are obvious, there are a lot of 'do's' that can help you look and feel the part.

One of the biggest areas that job applicants miss is their personal presentation on initial contact with an employer. This means that most applicants neglect to dress the part at all times, whether it's handing in an application for an internship, hanging out at a job fair or just picking up information about a job. Turning in a resume while wearing a pair of jeans and faded concert T-shirt may show a lack of concern for details, even if it's just a front desk receptionist taking your papers.

So how do you look the part? I will always advocate the classic business suit. Any person who is serious about securing a job needs to consider wearing a suit. Black, gray or navy will do just fine. Pink, teal, white or chartreuse suits need not apply.

Many men may argue that a black suit should be reserved for funerals, weddings and other special events. In fact, GQ just recently printed an article regarding the black suit in the office as 'overdone'. For an interview, if a black suit is all you own, take caution as to what goes underneath. Dark colors like reds, black and grays should be avoided. A simple white, light blue or light green (avoid neon) shirt with coordinating tie looks crisp and professional.

Women have a lot more options than men do, however most women tend to air on the conservative side. While a button up white shirt under a black suit is classy, it also tends to produce the 'I'll be your server for the evening' look. The 'waiter style' can be avoided by throwing a soft pink or blue button up shirt underneath the suit. Again, this always produces a very crisp look.

Women aren't limited to button up shirts. A soft sweater or crew neck shell is fun underneath a suit. It can show a level of creativity.

Don't forget the shoes! Men, avoid slides, even if they're nice streamlined shiny black slides from this season's finest shoe collections.

Women need to avoid strappy, 5-inch stiletto heels. A 3-inch heel or lower is suitable (depending on height). The heels give your posture a confident thrust by pushing your shoulders back and straightening your spine. Closed toe pumps or sling backs are just fine, but strappy shoes should be reserved for bar hopping.

Grey suits go better with pastels, especially this season. For men, contrasting colors like olive green or pale pink under a gray suit often look very styling, but might come off as too trendy. That choice is yours to make.

The bottom line is that you know what looks good on you. Choose a cut of a suit that fits your body the best; don't be tempted by trendy, over the top cuts that will fade into the archives of Vogue next season.

Remember to always look the part to feel the part, smile, and have a great interview!

Reflection:

1. Please list 5 reasons why it is important to dress professionally for a job interview:

2. After reading these three articles what changes will you make to the way you prepare for a job interview (please list 3-5 changes)

3. Based on the above article and material we have covered during class, what is the purpose of a job interview?

4. Please list 3-5 gender specific clothing items used for an interview?

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