Dress the Part

It might sound cliché, but it’s true that you only have one chance to make a first impression. Times have changed from the three-piece suit for men and suit and panty hose for women, but I can attest that I have seen it all when it comes to interview attire.  You don’t want to lose out on your dream job because you didn’t look prepared or put together for your interview. It never feels good to see a perfectly qualified candidate get disqualified for something that could have easily been avoided. The bottom line is whether you are interviewing at a casual office, start up, law firm or corporate environment you must show that you took the time and energy to care about the impression you make.

Here are some examples of things to do to make sure you make that fantastic first impression:

• Do your research. Find out as much as you can about the company and the people. Check out the organization’s website, their LinkedIn page, Facebook and Instagram.  After reviewing social media & employee profiles, you can get a better idea of the company culture and how people dress at the office. This will help you determine how conservative or hip their office is. My suggestion is that even while interviewing at a casual office environment, don’t ever dress casually.  I might be old school, but I always suggest wearing a suit or nice dress for women or nice slacks, pressed shirt, tie and or jacket for men.  You can add a pop of color, cool shoes, statement jewelry, or something trendy to show a sense of style if you are interviewing at a more progressive company, but you can’t go wrong dressing up.
• Make sure your personality shines through so they can tell you fit into the culture. You don’t have to dress just like them but you might feel better about your attire choice after conducting your research. If you’re working with a staffing firm they can help you with ideas as they know their clients.
• Wear clothes that fit. Clothes that are too tight or too loose are a no-go. It’s better to leave the suit at home if it doesn’t fit right and wear something that fits you nicely and makes you look good. Always err on the conservative side.
• Iron or steam your clothes. Wrinkled clothes give you a disheveled look. If you look this way they’ll really be nervous about what you’ll wear once you have the job or feel comfortable.
• Make sure your hair is neat and doesn’t look unkempt. If you are a male and have longer hair wear it pulled back. Don’t wear strong smelling hairsprays or gels.
• Bring a nice notebook to take notes and be sure to have a pen. This is a sure way to look prepared and show the interviewer you are truly interested in what they are saying. Make sure your notebook is not old and ratty.  Believe me they will notice.
• Bring multiple copies of your resume. You never know how many people you might end up meeting.  You’ll look like a rock star when you have an extra resume to share with someone that forgot to print it out or didn’t expect to meet you.  Many times, when things are going well the interviewer will try and introduce you to as many people as possible.
• Put your phone on silent or vibrate and keep it put away. You don’t want a call or text coming in while your phone is sitting in view of the interviewer.
• Send a thank you note after the interview. A handwritten note is best.  For time sensitivity feel free to email one but follow up with a hand-written note.  It can set you apart from the competition.  It might be the deciding factor between two top candidates.

Here are a few more quick things you should avoid:

• Do not wear casual sandals or sneakers.
• Do not wear shorts, a strapless dress or jeans.
• Do not wear tons of jewelry, especially multiple rings, huge earrings or bracelets that clank together. This can be very distracting.
• Do not wear perfume or cologne. You never know who might be allergic.  Think about times you have been around someone with too much cologne or perfume.  Don’t be that person.
• Do not wear heavy make-up.  An interview is not the place for a “smoky eye look”.
• Do not wear a low-cut or too short shirt – your cleavage, chest or your belly should never be visible.
• Do not wear a sheer top.
• Do not wear “obnoxious colors”, bright yellow, orange, hot pink or an overly busy print.
• Do not chew gum.
• Do not walk into a job interview with a coffee cup, bottle of soda, water or anything else to eat or drink.
• Do not walk into the interview with your earbuds in your ears or around your neck.

You have the skills, so remember to look the part.  Be yourself but use this as a guide to help you nail the next interview and make that perfect first impression.  Thanks for reading and good luck!

Susan Howells, Business Development Director