The best dress to wear for an interview will vary depending on the type of job and company you are interviewing for. You always want to dress to make the best impression, but the outfit you choose depends on whether you’re interviewing at a company with a formal dress code, at a casual startup, or an informal summer job or internship.
Proper dress for the interview should send a message that you have insight into what the job and company needs and that you are able to adapt to this.
When deciding how to dress for an interview, it’s best to know what the company’s dress code is. Ensure that you are aligned with the company environment and job requirements.
Because first impressions are a form of nonverbal communication, you must be ready for snap judgement and be ready to turn them in your favor.
Deciding what to wear for an interview can be a daunting task. It often feels as if there is a right answer and a wrong answer, but we have no way of figuring out which is which. As a result, there are a lot of gray areas. To add to the ambiguity, our personal values, backgrounds, and perspectives can also influence what we think is the right interview outfit.
PREPARATION
As always, not prepared, you are preparing for failure. This is typical interview costume advice and it also applies to your outfit. You don’t want to stand in your room on the day of the interview, surrounded by piles of clothes, crying that you have nothing to wear. When deciding what to wear for an interview, take a moment to think about what you want to wear, try out a few options a day or two in advance, and then choose. You may even want to have two solid outfits lined up in case you change your mind for the day. Instead of worrying about whether you have the right shoes to wear, you want to spend the night thinking about your interview and visualizing your success.
The dress code for a job interview will fall into one of three categories, casual, business casual, or business.
CASUAL:
Before attending an interview, make sure you’ve done your homework. Remember, you can never wear too much, but you can certainly wear too little. I used to work for a company that embraced what we affectionately called the “barefoot culture,” which meant, quite literally, that people often took off their shoes at work. But do we expect candidates to show up in beach shorts and tanks? Certainly not.. We still expect a clean look.
If you do give an interview, and you’re sure you should dress casually, you’ll want to look smart, not casual.
For women, pair dark denim with a shirt and some simple jewelry. The key is to look polished. The top should be a dresser to balance denim, and you should definitely wear professional shoes for this look.
BUSINESS CASUAL:
If you’ve looked inside yourself and studied the company and you still don’t know what to wear, go for business casual interview attire. If in doubt, it’s almost always business casual. At its simplest, this dress code means business attire with no mandatory ties or jackets. For women, business casual interview attire is a sharp button-down shirt or a conservative blouse, paired with pants or skirts. You can also wear tailored dresses. Shoes should definitely be commercially appropriate-flats, loafers or high heels. Ladies, do not wear uncomfortable shoes. Your heels may be beautiful, but if you can’t comfortably walk around your new office in the future, you’ll look uncomfortable and end up acting uncomfortable. Keep the cleavage to a minimum and the skirt at knee length.
BUSINESS:
For both men and women, business means that you want to look as tailored as possible-you want to look as if your clothes are specially tailored for you. For women, a traditional suit is a solid choice, but there are some non-traditional items available that can show off your personality and achieve the dress code just as well. Stick to the rules of dressing pants/skirts and jackets and find a creative balance that will work for you.
TIPS TO NOTE:
After choosing the right outfit for the interview, our overall appearance is very key and so it is important to take note of how we accessorize as well as choosing the right hairstyle and of course our makeup. Note these tips below:
CHOOSING INTERVIEW ACCESSORIES:
When wearing accessories to an interview, less is more. Choose accessories that will enhance your interview outfit and not overwhelm it.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT INTERVIEW HAIRSTYLE:
There are many ways to style a hairstyle for a job interview. While some options are stylish, others are more traditional, keep in mind that your hairstyle should not distract your employer. You will want your hair to be professional and polished, just like your entire outfit.
WEARING THE RIGHT MAKEUP TO THE INTERVIEW:
Just like your hair, your make-up shouldn’t distract the interviewer. This is not the time for bold lipstick or sparkling eyeshadow. Instead, keep the makeup subtle and unobtrusive.
CONCLUSION
When it comes to it, follow the golden rule when dressing for an interview: wear something that makes you feel good. If you feel good, you will be comfortable. If you are comfortable, you will think clearly and communicate effectively. Focus on feeling good and you will make your interview a success.
Credit: http://topresume.com
