Did you know that in 1971, a well-known psychologist concluded that in any face-to-face communication, 55% of how much the person likes you is determined by what they see? That means, the way you look and your body language says far more about you than what you are actually saying.
So, if there’s one thing you must absolutely get right in the job interview, it’s your image and appearance. Don’t wait until you have a job interview coming up to plan your outfit either.
These 5 Tips To Dress For The Job Interview Will Ensure You Are Ready:
- Should You Wear A Suit To The Job Interview? The answer is not necessarily. Your goal is to look polished and professional and you can do this even without wearing a suit. If you can, try to find out what the company dress code is- call the receptionist and ask, stop by the office and see how people are dressed, or ask the HR person who contacts you for the job interview. Then, plan to dress one level “up” from the dress code. So, if it’s a casual environment, you dress in business casual. If it’s business casual, dress in full business attire with a suit and tie. That way, you won’t be overdressed or underdressed.
- Always Be Conservative: Why? Because you will never know what the job interviewer will like or not like, and honestly, the job interview is not the place to put your fashion sense on display. You never want to take chances so keep it simple. Stick to black, navy, brown, gray or other neutral colors for dress pants, dress skirts and suits. You can wear lighter pastel colors for your dress shirts and blouses but always try to stay away from bold bright colors that are loud and distracting and arrive before you do. You already know what I mean (bright orange, red, pink etc) don’t need to make an appearance at the job interview. Your fashion style isn’t being questioned, your skills and abilities are, don’t let the interview be the place you make a fashion statement.
- Nothing Casual or Dressy: The impression you want to make on a job interview with your clothes is that you are ready to “work”, not ready to “party” or “play”. That means, anything you would typically wear to a party is off limits. Party dresses, low cut tops, high heels you can’t walk in, sequins, t-shirts, jeans, shorts, sandals or anything overly casual is off-limits. This also includes what you would typically wear when you “dress-up” to go to a wedding or even what you would wear for religious occassions.
The key is to be professional and the message to send is “I’m here to work”.
- Wear Minimal Jewelry. Leave anything you have that is overly flashy, dressy and too expensive at home. The only thing you want to draw attention to is your knowledge, your skills and your abilities to do the job and do it well. That means no “bling”, no fancy watches or rings, no dangling earrings, bangles or bracelets that make noise when you move and definitely nothing that would draw unnecessary attention to the Hiring Manager.
- Always Be Yourself: Your best accessory in the job interview is your confidence and when you look good, you will feel good. You should always wear what works for you and makes you look good. You want to ensure you feel comfortable so you are calm and confident.
As long as you make sure your “image” says “sharp” and “professional”, you’ll be a step closer to getting that job offer. Your clothes don’t have to be expensive but they should be clean, pressed and convey you as the confident, capable and competent job seeker that any Hiring Manager would be sorry not to hire.
What are your suggestions for dressing to impress an interviewer? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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