Dress for Success: How to dress for your interview
1. Dress for the job. Every interview is different. You wouldn't wear the same thing to an interview at a fashion magazine as you would to an investment bank. Scope out how people in the field dress. Is it a large firm where everyone is dressed business professionally? Or is it a more relaxed situation where business casual-wear is acceptable? Try to be dressed a level higher than the profession you’re interviewing for. If casual-wear is expected for employees, dress business-casual for the interview. If business-casual is expected for employees, dress business professional for the interview. It’s better to be over-dressed than under-dressed.
2. Dress in what looks best on you. Making a great first impression requires looking crisp and well put together. Make sure you are wearing pieces that fit well. Nothing too large and baggy or too small and tight. Make sure your clothes are smooth and neat. Dress comfortably. You may have to do a lot of walking or moving around. Making sure that your clothes fit well, and you have on comfortable shoes will help keep you focused on your interview. Having wrinkles and creases in your clothes won’t help, so make sure your outfit has been ironed or steamed.
3. Dress in neutral or dark colors. It probably won’t be very appropriate to wear a pin-stripe lilac suit for an interview with a law firm. Always play it safe. The best way to do that is to stick to neutral and dark colors. Black, dark brown and dark blue is a great place to start. Avoid bright colors, prints and graphics.
4. Keep it conservative. Avoid showing too much skin. Make sure your hair is neat and out of your face. Don’t wear any large or flashy jewelry. You don’t want anything to distract the interviewer while they converse with you. Avoid wearing strong scented perfumes or body sprays, as they can cause irritation to other people.
All in all, use your good judgment. Nothing is set in stone when it comes to interviews. Figure out what will seem best for the position you are applying to. Be sure to ask question concerning how to dress if you need to. You increase your chances of getting the job, or being called for another interview if you look your best.
Tell us, how do you dress for interviews?
