Dress for Success at Your Job Interviews



It has often been said that clothes make the man (or the woman). When job-hunting, first impressions are very important. You therefore need to dress for success during the interview.

You are marketing yourself to a potential employer. The first thing a potential employer sees when meeting you is your attire. Clothes make a big difference to how the interviewer responds to you and will often make an instant judgement, based on your appearance. Make that first impression count by dressing appropriately.

You need to make every effort to have the proper dress code for the kind of job you are seeking. Dressing properly will not give you the job but it will give you a competitive edge and a positive first impression. How you are dressed sets the tone of the interview.

Try and investigate your prospective employer so that what you wear makes you fit in with the organization (e.g. observing employees arriving for work). If you overdress or under dress, the potential employer may feel that you do not care enough about the job.

Dress for Success Tips for Men and Women

  • Dress conservatively.
  • Do not do or wear anything that distracts the interviewer’s attention from you.
  • Be neat and clean.
  • Have a well-groomed hairstyle.
  • Put on clean and polished shoes.
  • Wear closed-toe shoes. Sandals are not appropriate for a job interview.
  • Fingernails should be cleaned and trimmed (reasonable length).
  • If you wear cologne or perfume, keep it subtle/minimal. Your idea of a pleasant scent may leave the interviewer gasping for breath. You will be remembered for wrong reasons.
  • Have no visible body piercing beyond conservative ear piercing for women.
  • Well brushed teeth and fresh breath.
  • Have no objects in your mouth such as candy, gum etc.
  • Empty your pockets of bulging items.
  • Minimal jewellery if at all.
  • No body odour.
  • Make sure your tie is straight.
  • Carry your paperwork - CV, application letter, a pen and notepad - in a nice portfolio. This makes you look organized and professional.
  • Quit smoking! Some organizations will not employ smokers.

    (Coming soon in this page - Dress for Success Tips specific to Men and Dress for Success Tips specific to Women)

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