Dress Your Best When Interviewing

 One of the main purposes of an interview is to present yourself to a potential employer in a manner that reflects a highly polished and professional image. It is important to keep in mind that the interview is not the time to be making a personal statement with the way you dress. Yes! It makes a difference how you dress for an interview!

 

Rule # 1 (on what to wear to an interview): You ONLY have 1 chance to make a good first impression!!

 

How you dress matters! Have you heard the story relayed by a recruiter who interviewed a gentleman for a sales position within his organization? The recruiter tells the story how the candidate had been out of work for a few months and wanted the recruiter to understand why. The candidate took off his jacket, unbuttoned his shirt and started to pull down his pants (this is a true story) to show him the scar from a boat propeller that had injured him. He didn't get the job.

 

Neither did the young lady in a bright red skirt so short and tight that she could hardly sit down! In a conservative business climate or a challenging economy, appearance matters. Dress your best for the interview, even if you think it is a casual work environment. If you are in doubt about how to dress for an interview, err on the side of conservatism. It is much better to be overdressed than underdressed (or undressed). There is a statistic that states that the major contributing factor that helps a person draw an opinion on someone after meeting them, is based on how you look (or how they perceive you look).

 

A famous tennis player (Andre Agassi) said: IMAGE IS EVERYTHING!!

 

We have listed some helpful dressing hints for you to wear to an interview:

•Well tailored, solid color (dark-navy or charcoal), conservative suit –solid or subtle stripe – NO bold stripes that stand out.

•Black, polished shoes with laces

•White or off white long sleeve shirt

•Conservative tie (small pattern or stripe)

•Dark socks

•Very limited jewelry

•Neat, professional hairstyle

•Go easy on the aftershave

•Neatly trimmed nails

•Portfolio or briefcase

•Big smile and firm handshake!

In summary, think about the image that you want to convey. You want to convey the image of someone who will fit in and become a team member, as opposed to someone who will stand out as an individual. You want to appear confident, conservative, reliable, and polished. The way you dress can greatly enhance your portrayal of these qualities. Present a positive image and you will “shine” in the interview. Good Luck!!