How To Dress For A Job Interview
First impressions say a lot. Even before you get to interact with the interviewer, your dress code gives them a brief insight of who you are as an individual. The company dress code may not be too formal, however, dressing for the job and a job interview are two completely different scenarios. Here are a few key pointers on how to dress before getting that coveted job.
For men, it is highly recommended you dress up for the job interview and not down. As much as the position you are applying to may require casual style and may not involve a lot of formal wear, when in doubt choose to look professional. Your budget may not allow for you to splurge on something bespoke or off a designer rack, especially as a young job searcher but, a good pair of pants and blazer matched with a light colored shirt and a tie will definitely work. Ensure these items are well fitting; not too tight or too lose either. Choose a good pair of dress shoes and a decent pair of socks to match. The socks should be a shade of color that is not too bright and coordinates with the pair of pants worn to the interview.
Let this be a comfortable look for you. You don’t want to be distracted during the interview thinking about how uncomfortable you are.
In the absence of a suit, you can choose a good pair of khaki pants matched with a proper blazer to complete the look for the job interview.
Let’s start saying that sexy is not good! It looks unprofessional and will definitely cause a bad impression on your interviewers. You don’t want to draw attention to your looks but more to who you are and what you can bring to the company and the team.
For the ladies, keep it simple and professional as well. Select a two piece suit, a skirt or pants suit that fits just right are ideal. Avoid waistbands that could cut your midsection in half or make it uncomfortable to sit down for too long. Choose dark colors to wear and keep away from anything tight. The skirt should preferably be knee length. This makes sure it is neither too long nor too short. Choose a conservative light blouse to pair with the suit, no sheer or lacy materials and definitely nothing low cut.
Choose a classic pump that is not too high and avoid any open toed shoes. If wearing any hose, stick to a neutral color to avoid any mishaps. Carry an extra pair to the job interview if need be just to be safe.
In terms of jewelry, avoid it as much as you can or wear things really discreet. Don’t wear long necklaces or rings and avoid wearing too many bracelets.
Clean And Neat
Avoid loud and flashy colors. Ensure your shirt and pants are well pressed; if you do not own an iron box borrow one or take your clothes to the dry cleaners to avoid any mishaps. Take a shower, wear some deodorant and avoid any strong fragrances since this could cause an allergic reaction or worse (can you imagine if they hate that specific smell?). Make sure you have fresh breath before the interview.
Keep your hair and nails clean and neat. For the ladies, avoid nail polish that is neon bright and keep your hair styled conservatively with no complements.
Remember that how you dress will determine an important part of your first impression to the interviewers. Make that first impression not be the last one!
Now that you know how to dress, start preparing your answers to the most common interview questions with FasterSkills.
Originally published at www.fasterskills.com.
