How to dress for an interview? It is a question that most people wonder before having one. The interview day is the moment when you will have to give a good impression and try to convince others that you are the best candidate for the job. You can think that clothing is something superficial, but most job interviewers will judge you on the way you are dressed. This doesn’t mean that you have to wear designer clothing. It simply means that the employer usually looks at your exterior as a representation of your interior. Your typical dress suit for men and the proper business attire for women will do.
You have to consider that interviewers usually eliminated candidates in the first round because they are improperly dressed. This doesn’t mean that clothing determines the final election of a candidate, but it is a key factor. You should wear your best clothes and they must be clean and properly ironed. The clothes you choose must make you feel good and comfortable. It would be a good idea to visit the company and look at how employees are dressed.
Many job interviewers report that job candidates don’t still understand what they mean by proper interview dress, especially among first-time job interviewees. You must understand that despite your impressive educational background history and your history of work experience, something trivial as a wrinkled blouse or skirt could portray you as unprofessional and cost you the dream job.
It is obvious that you will take a few minutes to choose the right clothes for the interview. It is advisable to choose a job interview etiquette than a casual look because most employers think that casual clothes mean that you don’t care enough about the job interview.
There are general rules about how to dress for an interview for men and women, but there are other specific dress rules for each one. The following lines will show you the most important tips to dress very well at a job interview:
General Rules:
- Is more important impeccable personal grooming than a perfect interview outfit?
- You should wear clothes with conservative colors like black, white, or dark brown.
- You must never wear sports clothes such as jeans, t-shirts, or sneakers for a job interview.
- If you are a member of a strict religious group and you must always wear ethnic clothing, you will have to communicate it to your potential employers.
- It is important that you wear clothing that is in good condition, very clean, and properly ironed.
- You must have clean and trim fingernails.
- It is not necessary to buy a new wardrobe if you already have formal clothes.
- You should avoid using mismatched colors and patterns, such as yellow or pink.
For women:
The rules for a proper interview outfit for women have been changing over time, but it is still mandatory to use a formal look. The following rules and tips will help you to give a first good impression.
- It is advisable to wear a professional-looking dress or a conservative suit.
- Avoid wearing “high” heels; a pair of low-heeled shoes will make a pretty impression.
- Don’t use excessive jewelry.
- Never wear a too-short skirt.
- It would be great if you wear neutral-colored blouses.
- You have to use minimal makeup. If you think to use perfume, you should use a little.
- It is preferable to use a conservative hairstyle.
- You can use a small briefcase or coordinating purse.
- Never wear something wrinkled.
- If you have a tattoo or body piercing, don’t expose it.
- Never have sparkly, long, or bright fingernails.
- Your shoes should match your suit.
- You can wear a raincoat or an overcoat to the interview, if necessary.
- Don’t forget to wear comfortable but formal clothing to the interview.
For Men:
Despite fashion changes, it is still the best option to use a formal suit for a job interview. You must wear one that makes you look professional. However, there are many other things that will help you complement the ideal interview look such as:
- You should wear a suit with dark and conservative colors like dark gray, dark brown, black or navy.
- It is advisable to wear slacks in gray, navy, or black.
- If you will wear an undershirt, it should be white.
- Use shoes with a color that matches with your suit.
- You can use a belt, but don’t forget it must match with your outfit.
- It is important to wear clean and polished dress shoes that lace. The color of the shoes must match with the color of the lacks.
- Avoid wearing sweaters.
- Wear a tie with a simple pattern, it must be properly tied.
- Your fingernails must be short and very clean.
- You must not forget to wear an interview outfit that makes you feel very well.