What to Wear to an Interview

Hello Everyone!

This week I will be writing to you about what a potential professional should wear to an interview.  First off, you should all know that interviews (most likely) are your first time meeting with a company.  This means what you wear to your interview presents who you are and what you have to offer.  Also, it is your first impression with the company.  This is a critical time for you, and you should remember that it is at this time that the company will be judging you.

According to mindtools.com the first three seconds of your interview is the time when the company evaluates you the most. With this information in mind, I think that you need to go into your interview as professional as possible.  You should have a great attitude and being wearing the proper attire.  The attire that you wear to your interview should represent who you are, but in a conservative manner and appropriate for the interview’s setting.

Lets keep in mind that your outfit represents who you are, as well as the company that you desire employment with.  During the interview, the company will be looking to see if you are likely to fit in with the company.  The company may assume that your attire represent the type of work you do.  So, if you dress colorful they may assume that your work is bright and creative.  But, if you show up to the interview in non-matching sloppy clothes the company may assume that your work is disorganized.  I think that it would be a fair judgment too.

Now that you can understand why dressing well to an interview is important, lets go over what you should wear and should not wear.  Women should dress conservative and professional. According to Lamas Beauty, women should wear either pants or a skirt. The skirt should not go more than two inches above your knee. I personally think that if women choose to wear a skirt that they should always wear panty hose, as well as closed toed shoes.  Also, I think that your shoulders should be covered.  Men should dress in slacks and a button down.  A jacket should be worn when you enter the building, but does not have to be worn during the interview if you felt that it was to formal.  Men should make sure that their color scheme matches and that they are not wearing sport socks or white socks.  Also, their shoes should be clean and worn properly.  Men should also wear their pants at a professional height, and should not be to baggy.  All of these are suggestions on what to wear to an interview in order to feel more confident and professional.  According to collegeboard.com, wearing professional clothes to an interview can make you feel more confident and actually preform better in the interview.  They also suggest to look professional, but stay comfortable. If you are uncomfortable, it might be obvious to the company, and they may assume something is wrong with you.

So yes people, it does matter what you wear to an interview!

Thanks for reading, Kristin