ARE YOU STRUGGLING TO DECIDE WHAT TO WEAR ON AN UPCOMING JOB INTERVIEW?
The first impression is the last impression holds true when you meet a potential employer for the first time. Employers will judge you by the looks of your appearance immediately. It is always important to dress professionally when you are going for an interview. This will help you look like an ambitious employee which every employer wants.
When your appearance shows that you are serious about the opportunity and that you would fit in well within the corporate culture, it also portrays that you respect the interviewer. If the candidate is wearing a suit and tie, then it is going to leave a good impression on the interviewer as compared to wearing Rugged jeans and a tee shirt.
It is vital to check out the office dress code before showing up there for an interview. If everybody is wearing shorts and a tee-shirt and you approach with a suit and tie, then you would look out of place. The Key is that you need to show in the interview is that you belong and can play the part.
Appearance affects the decision of the Human resource department and plays a big part in it. Hiring personnel should be able to visualize you in that role they are trying to fill. You must look, walk, and talk the part. It is fine to flaunt your personality through your clothes but always remember to keep the etiquette of the role you are applying for in mind.
That said, different organizations and industries have their own culture where they expect from what employees should wear. We have compiled some tips on how to dress up to job interviews with different dress codes when you really want to make a first good impression that can land you a job.
FORMAL
Always dress one step above what you would normally think should do for work. If you are not sure what to wear, then remember that you cannot go wrong with a well-fitting suit. Go for neutral, semi-dark colors like brown, grey, and blue. A white dress shirt is always a perfect option and can be rocked with any suit color to perfection.
Avoid mixing black and green and choose leather over suede. Do not Accessorize more than a decent looking watch. Just a suit with a classic tie, tie pin, and cufflinks would pull it off.
Avoid bright colors and bold patterns on ties that can distract the interviewer. The tie is supposed to enhance your appearance so it should be well-matched with the whole look. Socks should be a dark color and neat and shoes must be polished.
Choose a classic three-piece suit and enhance the look with a decent tie. You can’t go wrong with being more overdressed for the interview compared to how would you be dressed if you already had the job.
BUSINESS CASUAL
Some organizations may test your ability to define fashion etiquette by putting up a business casual dress code. This dress code is a total confusion for employees. And it is not their fault as there is not a standardized definition for business casual.
Appropriate choices for the business casual getup are chinos, dress slacks, sweater or knit shirts a bottom down with or without a tie, a bespoke blazer, or a light color two-piece suit with a dark color shirt.
Keep the business part of business casual in mind leave your homely clothes at home because outfits should still be neat, pressed, and properly fitting. The idea is to keep a professional, business-like image while allowing yourself some relaxed clothes. Even if your interviewer pops up in a two-quarter short. or a short skirt, that does not mean that you should also rock something like that.
The theme of business casual is to keep a formal business image while enjoying the advantage of more casual and relaxed clothing.
CASUAL
Casual attire is slightly less dressy and allows more comfort Rather than showing up in a suit and tie go for something that is comfy on the body but still presentable: khakis, cotton dress pants, and a checkered sweater. For the office, jeans would go well with some nice bottom down shirt.
You can express your taste and light up your casual getup with some accessories. A nice sports watch and bracelets look good but remember that less is always better when it comes to accessorizing for any first impression job interview.
You can also rock sneakers with a casual outfit. Just make sure that they are neat and tidy and not run-down. The casual dress gives you the benefit of wearing sneakers or shorter sleeves. The outfit should still be your own size and neat.
STARTUPS
Startups have changed the way office dressing was before now it’s been more easy-going in the last years. While it is still necessary that you rock neat and clean and professional look the definition of “professional” has somewhat changed over the decade since more millennials have gone into business and their created jobs have a relaxed approach to office and dress code. Because working at a startup often involves late hours and unforeseen tasks, startup casual clothing should be comfortable and more on the practical side.
Often startups are looking for an all-rounder kind of guy who knows social media, someone with whom it just clicks with, and who seems like the right guy to add to the team. Therefore, you might want to stand above the crowd and express yourself via clothing. It is important to do some homework and know the company culture beforehand, so you have a prior idea about what to do and not to as a first impression.
Nowadays there are so many startups and millennials organizations, and depending on what is their business, you might even dress neat well-fitting tee shirt, clean pair of jeans, and a jacket. It might be a little too risky to pull off if you are not sure of the company culture, so if you want to play it safe, add a blazer to the outfit or put on a bottom down shirt instead of a tee shirt.
CONCLUSION
We can establish that if you look good, you will feel good and if you feel that, there will be a much higher chance of you nailing your interview. Here are the most practical tips to help you succeed in an interview:
When going for an interview always wear something in which you feel most confident and comfortable. You will exude a positive vibe and feel confident, which may tell your interviewee that you are the man for the job. And that can put you over your competition.
Go slightly overdressed when in doubt rather than show up looking like you are at home.
Whatever you choose to wear, we recommend you start with a neat and neutral base and then add a dab of your own personality with a well-thought accessory.
You should avoid everything that looks too casual or sloppy, which includes worn-off, older shoes, wrinkled shirts, sneakers, and loose apparel.
Make sure of your hygiene carry a mouth freshener with you, do not skip shaving, and make sure that your hairstyle looks neat all the time. If you prefer perfume, make sure it has a lighter tone. Trim your nails and keep a healthy regime of brushing your teeth twice daily.
No matter the dress code of the company all clothes should fit you well and not have any stains.