‘First impression is the last impression’ is true for job interviews. How you dress demonstrates how serious and professional you are and gives you the confidence to perform.
While a recruiter is interviewing you because of your qualifications and credentials, appropriate interview attire can help you score bonus points.
For insight into dressing well for your upcoming interview, follow the tips below.
Tips To Help You Dress Well
1. Explore The Organization’s Dress Code
Before the interview, it is advised that you thoroughly research the company and its values. This also means learning about its dress code to help you pick the right outfit to wear and understand how the company expects you to present yourself.
In case the organization you are interviewing for adheres to a casual dress code policy, it will be beneficial for you to show up looking professional, rather than underdressed.
2. Choose Clothing According To The Weather
In order to make sure that you are fully comfortable during the interview, it is wise to pick clothes according to the season, weather, and climate. For example, you would not want to wear a wool coat and go out in the scorching heat of the sun.
3. Ensure There Are No Noticeable Defects Or Pet Hair
It does not give a good impression to an interviewer if your clothes have stains, holes, or pet hair. These issues may draw attention away from you and give the impression that you are unprofessional.
Moreover, things could take a turn for the worse if you have pet hair on your clothes and your interviewer is allergic.
4. Iron Your Clothing
Irrespective of what you have picked to wear to your upcoming interview, it is suggested that you steam, iron, or press them beforehand.
This is a great way to give the impression that you are prepared to meet the prospective employer and care about your clothing and appearance at the workplace.
5. Review The Clothing Items
The night before the interview has been scheduled to take place, hang up or lay out the outfit you have decided to wear. This helps save time and gives you the opportunity to review your clothing items and ensure that they match.
This is also a great way to get an idea of whether the outfit you chose is appropriate for the role you are interviewing for or not.
6. Put On Subtle Makeup
It is crucial to keep your makeup subtle and simple to ensure that it does not distract the interviewer. It is possible to enhance your appearance without going overboard with makeup.
Where your hairstyle is concerned, try to make sure that all loose strands are swept away from your face. This will help keep your hands on your lap, rather than constantly on your face.
7. Avoid Strong Scents
It is not just your outfit, hair, and makeup that will help you make a good first impression in your interview.
Remember to take a shower and properly groom yourself at least a day before the interview. When putting on cologne perfume, be mindful of the amount you put on.
In addition, the scent should not be too overpowering for two reasons. The first is that it can distract the recruiter and impact their ability to pay attention to your candidacy and credentials. The second reason is that the interviewer could be allergic.
8. Be Yourself
An interview is an opportunity to show off your personality and let the hiring manager know what makes you qualified and capable for the position you have applied for. It is also a great way to give them firsthand insight into your capabilities that are not listed on your resume.
For example, if you prefer bold colors, then feel free to wear a bright-colored shirt with neutral bottoms.
9. Be Prepared
Part of the attire is being prepared with everything beforehand, even the accessories. So, keep a nice and clean bag that matches, and take along a couple of resumes, a pen, and a notebook.
Moreover, it is up to you to ensure that you arrive at the interview location on time, so find out how long it takes to get there the night before.
During the interview, silence all notifications on your phone to avoid any distractions.
Matching Outfits To The Workplace
Researching the company, you are interviewing for gives you a sense of the environment and the level of formality that you should maintain. This means that you go through images they have posted of events on LinkedIn or social media websites.
Consequently, you will have a good idea of what people generally wear to the office in the organization. Even if you come up empty after research, there are several basic outfits that you can wear to an interview.
1. Casual Outfits
If you are aware that the company culture is casual, you can opt for a professionally casual appearance. Here are some notions to try out.
- Dark pants or jeans
- A button-down polo or blouse with bold colors or patterns
- A cardigan
- Heels or flats
- Closed toe pumps
- Subtle jewelry that goes with the outfit and does not distract the interviewer.
2. Business Casual Outfits
As compared to casually professional dressing, business casual requires you to dress up a little more. This is especially important if you are applying for a role that requires meetings with the client in person.
Here are a couple of ideas for you to use.
- Navy or black dress pants
- Button-down blouse or shirt
- Jacket or cardigan
- Oxfords or loafers
- Heels or flats
- Ties and belts are optional.
- Subtle jewelry that is not too bold.
3. Business Formal Outfits
A formal workplace culture requires you to portray your best professional appearance. Here are a couple of ideas that can guide you in the right direction.
- A suit in a dark color
- Oxfords or closed-toed shoes.
- Classic jewelry to compliment the outfit.
- Button-down jacket or blouse
- A tie and belt
What Not To Wear To An Interview
Below is a list of outfits that should be avoided during interviews to make sure that you appear professional.
- Any piece of clothing with a snag, hole, or stain.
- A piece of clothing that does not fit perfectly.
- Clothing that makes you feel uncomfortable.
- An outfit that needs to be re-adjusted every time you move or makes you feel conscious about your body.
- Outfits that draw too much attention or could distract the hiring manager.
Conclusion
An interview presents you with an opportunity to put your real self forward and make a great first impression. Make sure to be prepared in advance and do thorough research of the company, so that the hiring manager can tell how serious you are.
The tips above can be helpful when you finally decide to enter your closet and pick an outfit for your upcoming interview.
