Do’s and Don’ts of Interview Wear

10/01/2015 |

Looking the Part

You applied for a job, and you get the call for an interview. What do you wear? When dressing for an interview, put on the business suit instead of your jeans, even if the company you are interviewing for is casual. The person you interview with will be considering whether or not you can do the job, but won’t be able to focus on your qualifications if you’re wearing a tube top or a tank top with torn jeans and a bandana on your head. Hiring managers want to see candidates make an effort to look professional for an interview. Here are a few “Do’s” and “Don’ts” for dressing up for an interview:

Do wear clean, ironed clothes.
Do empty pockets – beware of bulging keys and tinkling change.
Do wear buttoned shirts, leaving only one or two buttons open at most, not showing chest.
Do wear a tie if possible. Make certain that it is knotted firmly, not loosely around the shirt collar.
Do wear traditional daytime fabrics. Avoid wearing satins or leather.
Do wear clean, conservative, and polished shoes.
Do wear complimentary and stylish ties. This is one piece of garment that can be eye-catching.

First Impressions Count

Your job is to impress employers enough so they will hire you. The first impression you make on an employer will be your appearance. Your appearance will also affect how you feel about yourself. Knowing that your appearance is good will give you added confidence in yourself — and that self-confidence is essential if you are going to make a good first impression. It’s also a very good idea to have more than one outfit for interviews, just in case there is a rip or something spills on you. Employers may want to interview more than once and you may not want to wear the same outfit each time.

Don’t wear more than two rings, or any body piercing (earrings, nose rings, etc.)
Don’t wear sandals and athletic shoes, no matter how clean and new they are.
Don’t wear baseball caps or sunglasses.
Don’t wear chains or necklaces.
Don’t wear loud, bright colors such as greens, reds or purples. These colors can be used sparingly as accents or accessories.
Don’t wear jeans or t-shirts
Don’t wear sports clothes with emblems. Avoid clothing with large designer labels

Setting Yourself Up for Success

When dressing for an interview, it best to dress conservatively. Keep in mind that all interviews start with a bang! So make sure you’re ready when you step into the room and impress them from the start.

by Loria Price