For Women
While the rules for women's wear are more complicated, the same basic rules apply. Neat, clean and well-groomed trumps expensive any day! Whatever you wear, it should be mended, clean, pressed and fit well. Andrea Doven offers some other tips for women on how to dress for an interview, including:
• Do the "sit down" test. Most women try on skirts while standing up. Perform a "sit down" test by sitting down in the skirt and noting where it rides up on the leg when sitting up straight and crossing your legs. This will help you decide if you are going to have trouble keeping your skirt at a presentable length before you buy it.
• Decide between pants and a skirt. There are good argument to be made for both the pants suit and the skirt suit. Pants remove the problem of having to wear stockings, and a nice, tailored pant with a great jacket can be a stunning combination. The problem is that some industries are still a bit old-fashioned and may prefer their female executives to wear the power suit with a skirt. As time goes on, this problem will probably disappear, but for now the scales seem slightly tipped in favor of the skirt. However, for all but executive-level jobs, pants are probably an option, particularly if you choose your outfit with care.
• Tone down makeup. You should definitely wear makeup, but it is important that your makeup look as natural as possible. Avoid heavy, smoky eye makeup, beaded lashes, and overbright lipstick. Choose soft, neutral and muted colors that give you a professional look.
• Watch your jewelry. An elegant watch, a simple pair of earrings and a thin chain with a small charm are all the jewelry you need for a job interview. Avoid clunky bracelets, heavy or oversized hoops and too many rings. A wedding ring on one hand and another ring on your right hand are enough. The focus should be on you, not your jewelry.
• Wear discreet shoes. Today's fashions favor four- and five-inch heels or platforms, but these are inappropriate for most job interviews. Instead, wear one- to two-inch heels with a closed-toe pump for the most professional look. Flats are permissible, but often do not look as stylish and feminine as a low heel. Never wear casual sandals or open-toed heels.
• Accessorize. While you may want to show of your new, expensive handbag, a stylish laptop back or briefcase is actually a better choice for a job interview and has the added bonus of giving you a great place to store your papers, pens and other items. Ultimately, you should wear something that makes you feel confident and professional. Following these guidelines can help you land the job you want and make a great impression on the people who interview you!
While the rules for women's wear are more complicated, the same basic rules apply. Neat, clean and well-groomed trumps expensive any day! Whatever you wear, it should be mended, clean, pressed and fit well. Andrea Doven offers some other tips for women on how to dress for an interview, including:
• Do the "sit down" test. Most women try on skirts while standing up. Perform a "sit down" test by sitting down in the skirt and noting where it rides up on the leg when sitting up straight and crossing your legs. This will help you decide if you are going to have trouble keeping your skirt at a presentable length before you buy it.
• Decide between pants and a skirt. There are good argument to be made for both the pants suit and the skirt suit. Pants remove the problem of having to wear stockings, and a nice, tailored pant with a great jacket can be a stunning combination. The problem is that some industries are still a bit old-fashioned and may prefer their female executives to wear the power suit with a skirt. As time goes on, this problem will probably disappear, but for now the scales seem slightly tipped in favor of the skirt. However, for all but executive-level jobs, pants are probably an option, particularly if you choose your outfit with care.
• Tone down makeup. You should definitely wear makeup, but it is important that your makeup look as natural as possible. Avoid heavy, smoky eye makeup, beaded lashes, and overbright lipstick. Choose soft, neutral and muted colors that give you a professional look.
• Watch your jewelry. An elegant watch, a simple pair of earrings and a thin chain with a small charm are all the jewelry you need for a job interview. Avoid clunky bracelets, heavy or oversized hoops and too many rings. A wedding ring on one hand and another ring on your right hand are enough. The focus should be on you, not your jewelry.
• Wear discreet shoes. Today's fashions favor four- and five-inch heels or platforms, but these are inappropriate for most job interviews. Instead, wear one- to two-inch heels with a closed-toe pump for the most professional look. Flats are permissible, but often do not look as stylish and feminine as a low heel. Never wear casual sandals or open-toed heels.
• Accessorize. While you may want to show of your new, expensive handbag, a stylish laptop back or briefcase is actually a better choice for a job interview and has the added bonus of giving you a great place to store your papers, pens and other items. Ultimately, you should wear something that makes you feel confident and professional. Following these guidelines can help you land the job you want and make a great impression on the people who interview you!
If there is one area that should be clear but is often confusing for those facing a job interview, it is dress code. You know you want to look professional, but what is the best way to achieve that goal? Andrea Doven, a veteran of the human resources industry and recognized expert on professionalism in interviews, offers some tips for both men and women on how to dress properly for any job interview.
For Men
While the rules for men on dressing for an interview are simpler than those for women, there are still shades and degrees of differences that can make choosing the right outfit a challenge. Andrea Doven offers the following tips for men on choosing proper attire for a job interview:
• Dress up, not down. There are very few job interviews where a suit is inappropriate attire. Even if you are not going to wear a suit every day to work, it is important to project the image that says you care about your appearance. Some young men wear suits to interviews at fast food restaurants, so there is little chance you will be overdressed. If you do not own a suit and cannot borrow one, be sure you wear a clean, buttoned-down shirt and a nice pair of pants with a tie. If all you have are blue jeans, make sure they are pressed and your shoes are clean. No matter what you wear, it should be clean, neat and presentable. Items that should never be worn to an interview, for any job, include flip flops, bedroom slippers, shoes without socks, t-shirts with inappropriate sayings or logos, or shorts. The one exception to this rule is an interview in which you must perform some type of physical activity, such as a swimming test for a lifeguard. In that case, you will be told what to wear to the interview.
• Cover your tattoos. Tattoos and body art are very personal items and should not be visible during a job interview. If at all possible, cover them with long sleeves or a high collar. Remove piercings and keep your hair neatly groomed, avoiding wild hairdos.
• Keep your shoes unremarkable. Cowboy boots are probably not the best footwear for an interview unless you are going to be working on a ranch. Invest in a nice pair of black or brown lace-up shoes or loafers and pair them with dark, not white, socks.
• Look at your boss. If possible, look at the person who will be your supervisor. How does he or she dress? If the answer is in a suit and tie or business apparel, you should try to match that look. Always dress for the job you want, not the job you have!
• Pay attention to accessories. Most men do not carry bags but a nice laptop bag or briefcase gives you somewhere to put your items such as a copy of your resume or some literature on the industry and also makes a favorable impression.
With a bit of thought, men can dress well for the interview and maximize the chances of getting the job.
For Men
While the rules for men on dressing for an interview are simpler than those for women, there are still shades and degrees of differences that can make choosing the right outfit a challenge. Andrea Doven offers the following tips for men on choosing proper attire for a job interview:
• Dress up, not down. There are very few job interviews where a suit is inappropriate attire. Even if you are not going to wear a suit every day to work, it is important to project the image that says you care about your appearance. Some young men wear suits to interviews at fast food restaurants, so there is little chance you will be overdressed. If you do not own a suit and cannot borrow one, be sure you wear a clean, buttoned-down shirt and a nice pair of pants with a tie. If all you have are blue jeans, make sure they are pressed and your shoes are clean. No matter what you wear, it should be clean, neat and presentable. Items that should never be worn to an interview, for any job, include flip flops, bedroom slippers, shoes without socks, t-shirts with inappropriate sayings or logos, or shorts. The one exception to this rule is an interview in which you must perform some type of physical activity, such as a swimming test for a lifeguard. In that case, you will be told what to wear to the interview.
• Cover your tattoos. Tattoos and body art are very personal items and should not be visible during a job interview. If at all possible, cover them with long sleeves or a high collar. Remove piercings and keep your hair neatly groomed, avoiding wild hairdos.
• Keep your shoes unremarkable. Cowboy boots are probably not the best footwear for an interview unless you are going to be working on a ranch. Invest in a nice pair of black or brown lace-up shoes or loafers and pair them with dark, not white, socks.
• Look at your boss. If possible, look at the person who will be your supervisor. How does he or she dress? If the answer is in a suit and tie or business apparel, you should try to match that look. Always dress for the job you want, not the job you have!
• Pay attention to accessories. Most men do not carry bags but a nice laptop bag or briefcase gives you somewhere to put your items such as a copy of your resume or some literature on the industry and also makes a favorable impression.
With a bit of thought, men can dress well for the interview and maximize the chances of getting the job.