How To Dress For A Job Interview

It wasn’t that long ago that it was unnecessary to write an article to explain how one should dress for a job interview. People dressed in their nicest clothes when going out in public anyway. For interviews they just straightened their tie a little better, removed their hats or made sure there weren’t any runs in their pantyhose.

Today, within just one generation that’s all gone and people don’t know how to do “dress for success.” Remember this – You get only one chance to make a good first impression. Blow that and your chance may be gone for good. You can have the best resume in the world yet blow the interview and not get the dream job you want. I recognize that some of you won’t agree, but take it from someone who has been there, done that – I’m right! So how do you dress for success? Here’s how.

For Men:

• Wear a suit. I know, I don’t like them either, but do it. It makes a better impression than scruffy. Basically it just shows your future employer that you know how to “put yourself together.”
• If you don’t have a suit jacket, at least wear a long sleeve shirt either white or color coordinated. Stay away from the “business casual” look.
• Wear a belt and tie.
• Dark socks and polished shoes.
• No jewelry or little. Possibly a watch and ring. Nothing else.
• Comb your hair neatly. No Mohawks. Just kidding.
• Limit the aftershave. Also leave off the cologne, many people are allergic.
• Have your nails neatly trimmed. In other words if you have grease from working on the car, clean them.
• Carry a Portfolio or day planner that neatly organizes your papers.

For the Ladies:

· Suit (Dark or gray preferably)

· If you don’t have a suit, at least wear a pants suit that is coordinated and professional. No tight fitting shirts or belly buttons peeping out.

· If you wear a skit it should be long enough to sit comfortably. Stay away from mini-skirts.

· Wear a coordinated blouse and conservative shoes.

· Limit jewelry. Do not wear dangling earrings or rings on every finger. These can be distracting, and since you don’t know the interviewers taste in clothes, conservative is always the safest way to go.

· No jewelry is better than cheap gaudy jewelry.

· Have your hair styled in a professional manor.

· Wear neutral pantyhose, light make-up and easy on the perfume. No perfume is better than too much.

· Have your nails done in a neat manicured manor.

· Carry a portfolio or day planner that neatly organizes your papers.

What Not To Bring Or Do:

• Cell phones – Leave them in your purse or car. And whatever you do DON’T answer it, even if you’re waiting for the interviewer to come out and get you. Don’t do anything that might cause them to wait on you.
• Ipod or anything that has earplugs.
• NO Gum. Nothing worse than smacking lips and gum when trying to make a good impression.
• Leave the coffee or soft drink in the car. Don’t take a chance you’re going to spill it on your nice clothes. Plus it’s just a little too casual.
• If you have lots of piercings, leave some of them home. The best rule is earrings only.
• Cover tattoos.

If you do this you will knock them dead. If you look sharp, you will feel sharp as the old advertising slogan from Gillette goes, but it is true.

Extra Tips:

Be sure your clothes fit well. Lay them out the day before the interview so you can check to be sure things are ready.

Carry a breath mint and use it before you enter the building. This is especially important if you smoke.

Polish your shoes. Many people ignore this but statistics show that when a person is making a first impression they look you “up and down” and that scuffed shoes will turn them off. It seem silly, but why take a chance?

If they keep you waiting in the lobby be polite to the receptionist and maybe even chat a little instead of just sitting there. I discovered a long time ago that many companies rely on their receptionists to give them a “first impression” opinion. So if you’re nice to them they may have something nice to say about you to their boss!