Dressing for an Interview

What Not To Do/ Wear In An Interview

For everyone, the checklist includes the following:

• No tinted glasses
• No joke or fad watches
• No disposable writing pens
• No visible body piercing or multiple earrings in one ear
• No visible body art; cover tattoos if possible
• No inconsistent look- no sneakers with suits
• No wrinkled or soiled clothing
• No flashy jewelry, dangle earrings
• No Provocative clothing

Taking the conservative approach

Although Americans have been putting suits and ties in the back of their closets in recent years, most recruiters continue to agree that when you’re not sure which way to dress, err on the conservative and professional side. For white-collar workers, here’s what that means:

• The power suit colors are navy and other dark blues. Black is seen as somber – a charcoal gray is safer. The dark colors convey formality, conservatism, and authority.
• To show less authority, camel or beige are acceptable. Still less power is conveyed with a jacket and slacks rather than a suit.

Choosing Business casual

There’s little doubt that the nation’s workers are moving from Casual Friday to Casual Every Day. For men and women, business casual dressing that’s safe and appropriate for interviews consists of natural-fiber slacks, dressy casual shirts, a blazer or sweater, and quality loafers. If that’s beyond your budget, scale down the costs but follow that pattern. The quandary for job applicants is whether to dress in a suit even when you know everyone in the office will be informal. In a few cases, corporate blue suits can actually reduce your chances because you don’t seem to “fit in” and haven’t bothered to find out of dress code.

Advanced research is the only way to be on sure footing. Assuming that you know what business casual means in your interview setting – or if you should dress in business casual – is risky. Research before stepping on stage.