What do we wear to an interview? You would be surprised to know how people present themselves at an interview. The first thing an interviewer sees is you, not your personality, or how good you will be at the job. Dressing appropriately for any interview speaks volumes about your character. They say it’s not about looks, however, it’s different in this case. Looks play a massive part in the interview process, and not in the sense of is he/she good-looking, I mean how one dresses and carries themselves.
Why It’s Important
Taking yourself seriously is an important aspect to any interview. There are many types of jobs out there and they all require a level of professionalism no matter how chill the job is. After all, everyone wants good customer service and wants to see that employees actually care. The way you dress for an interview gives potential employers their first impression of how you present yourself professionally. It is important to show that you care about how you look because it also represents how you carry yourself, which gives you a way better chance of getting the job.
It’s also an indication that you recognize that norms and standards exist because they are expectations that need to be followed. Even if you believe that you should be judged on your talent and ability and not on your appearance, dressing appropriately for the situation shows that you have respect for your employer and clients, and you are willing to follow the directives in the workplace.
What To Wear
No matter what type of interview you are going to, you want to make a positive impression while still appearing professional and suitable for the position. Black, white, gray, navy blue, brown, or beige are all acceptable colors to wear when it comes to a job interview. You can add a touch of color by wearing hints of light blue, pale pink, or a light yellow and still convey professionalism. Dress pants, pencil skirts, knee-length dresses, blazers, neutral or light-colored blouses, sweaters, cardigans, tights, and suits are all acceptable forms of interview attire. Dress shoes should be closed-toed heels, flats, or short boots.
Also, when dressing for an interview you want to remember to be appropriate. Definitely avoid bright colors, knee-high boots, anything furry, flip-flops, loud accessories, and smelly perfume. It’s ok to wear fragrances as I love them myself but be careful not to wear one that is to strong for the interview and that may seem overpowering. Save that for when you are hanging out or for other occasions, but you can definite wear something subtle and beautiful. I find that in my experience I always get complimented on the way I smell. So, it is a food thing to wear fragrances. Do your research beforehand and figure out what type of company you are interviewing for in terms of dress. Not everywhere requires the same attire, but everywhere requires professionalism and you want to look appropriate for the job and not embarrass yourself.
Common Interview Types
Business Casual: You can choose between either dress pants or a pencil skirt with a nice blouse or button down shirt, or a knee-length dress. While the name says casual, you want your appearance to be neat, presentable, professional, and polished.
Business Formal: For a more formal setting, you want to go with either a pantsuit, statement dress, dress pants or pencil skirt with a nice blouse and blazer, or a knee-length dress with a blazer. You want to look as professional and business-appropriate as possible for this job interview.
With all that being said remember that you have to sell yourself, meaning sell what good about yourself and why they would want to hire you. Of course this is the most important part of an interview, but remember before that process, they see your appearance first and you want that appearance to represent what you have on the inside. As mention in one of my posts I have seen people miss out on opportunities and have had the experience of turned down people myself due to the way they presented themselves. Everything seemed grand on paper, but it was a different story when they appeared in front of me. They may have been a wonderful person and excellent for the job in terms of skills but the way they presented themselves didn’t come across that way.
Taking The Time
The sad part is, there are so many people that are talented and are wonderful individuals but they lack the concern in their looks and don’t dress the part which leaves them with missed opportunities. Please understand that dressing the part for an interview, in fact any occasion, is important. Don’t sell yourself short before you have sold yourself. In life, it is not about looks, but it also is. I would not ever judge someone by their looks by any means, because what’s on the inside matters the most, but I will judge someone on an interview that looks like they got out of bed, put on some leggings with flats, a dingy top that they got 5 Christmases ago and they come in looking that way, I can’t take that seriously.
So, You don’t have to be a fashionista to dress the part, just take some time, do some research and you will move mountains, this is my reason for writing this article. I want to see you get want you want and look good while doing it. And as always, please don’t forget to ask for opinions.
Conclusion
Let your inner beauty shin on the outside, because you owe yourself that. Let the world see you and see what it can learn from you. We all have different personalities and cultures. Share that with the world and you’ll be surprised what you get back. Life is no easy journey, so make it easier on yourself and represent your you. Feel good, look good, and have fun doing it. There are many styles for many occasions so have fun with style and fashion, just remember for important ones, be professional and dress the part!