I've been in the professional world for quite a while now; long enough to have a good idea of what the word "professional" means. I may not be a hiring manager, or one who has any say in hiring practices, but I have observed much when it comes to what hiring managers look for in their candidates. This is never more true than when a hiring manager takes his or her first look at their prospective employee, and so I've written down a few tips on dressing for an interview that will hopefully help you land the job you've applied for.
I work for a company that is actively hiring new personnel. In this case, "actively" means that our Human Resources department conducts at least one or two interviews per day, sometimes more. My desk is conveniently located near a large picture window which affords me an unobstructed view of the front parking lot, main entrance, and all the people who come in looking for a job. I am constantly amazed by how casual this world has become.
I have seen prospective employees come in wearing jeans, t-shirts, flip-flops, ill-fitting clothing, and dirty clothing, sporting all manner of piercings and tattoos, unkempt hair, and just a general outward appearance of apathy. (I find myself wondering about the thought processes of these interviewees while they are dressing themselves in the morning.) It seems to me that in order to get a job - a decent, well-paying job - one needs to actually care about not only what skills one can offer (which is obviously important) but also how one appears to one's prospective employer. A good first impression is not necessarily the most important thing in the corporate world, but it certainly helps.
In my opinion, it does not matter if you are applying for a Fry-Cook position at McDonald's, a call-center position, a sales manager, or the company CEO, it is always prudent to dress your best for your initial interview and then let the prospective employer dictate dress code thereafter. (And once the dress code has been discussed, stick to it!) This, of course, applies to all jobs, unless you are applying for a position with a business that promotes self-expression, like the cool store on the corner that specializes in original vinyl recordings, or the little bead and yarn shop with the crazy gypsy owner, or the trendy art gallery downtown. Even then, it is better to ask how you should dress for an interview than show up in something inappropriate and run the risk of being turned down simply based on your appearance.
Experience isn't everything.
Some Tips for Women
- Go easy on the make-up & jewelry. You are there to discuss how your skills can benefit the company, not show them your fashion prowess.
- Do not wear perfume. If you must wear perfume, go easy with the application. Keep in mind that many people are sensitive to artificial or overwhelming scents; an allergic reaction can end your interview almost before it gets started.
- Wear clothing that fits well. Clothing that is tight, revealing, lose or ill-fitting is inappropriate. Not only that, but if you are fidgeting with your clothes (or jewelry, or hair) during the interview, you run the risk of seeming insincere.
- It is OK to be trendy, but make a concerted effort to do it in a professional, well-put-together way.
- Wear your hair away from your face in a pony-tail, French twist, clip or barrette. Having your hair in your face during an interview is a distraction to both you and your interviewer. If you are constantly tucking stray tresses behind your ear, your interviewer is more likely to focus on your movements than your words.
- Skirts should be no shorter than 1 inch above your knee.
- If you wear a skirt, always wear nylons.
- If you wear nylons, do not wear sandals or an open-toe shoe. In fact, sandals or open-toe shoes appear on the "inappropriate" items list of the dress codes of most professional places of employment.
Some Tips for Men
- Shave. Unless you have a fully-grown beard or mustache, shave. A five o'clock shadow at nine o'clock in the morning will be viewed as lazy.
- Make an attempt to flatten your Harry Potter hair. If your hair naturally sticks up at all angles, and you have done everything to tame it with little or no success, that is one thing. If you simply look like you've just rolled out of bed, you will again, be viewed as lazy.
- Wear slacks or freshly laundered khakis with a crease.
- Wear lace-up shoes.
- Wear a button down shirt, ironed and creased in all the right places. If you do not know how to iron, take your shirt and your pants to the dry cleaners well before the day of your interview and don't forget to pick them up the day before! This is a small price to pay to look crisp, clean and professional.
General Tips for Men and Women
- Wash. Wash yourself and your clothes. Clean and clip your fingernails.
- Iron your clothing. Wrinkled shirts, pants, blazers or any article of clothing only shows your prospective employer that you are lazy.
- Jeans and t-shirts are unacceptable. Period.
- No flip flops or sneakers.
- Drive someone else's car. If you drive a beater, or something with a smashed rear quarter panel, or something with a hood that is a different color from the driver's side door that is a different color than the trunk - drive someone else's car or have someone drop you off. This is not to say that you should hide what you drive once you have gotten the position, this is just another way to put forth your professionalism.
- Piercings. Remove them. Almost all companies have obvious piercings on their "inappropriate" list.
- Tattoos. Hide them as much as possible. Tattoos are a bit more widely accepted now, but for the purposes of this article, and for the benefit of your first interview, make an attempt to cover your ink work.
- Don't arrive 30 minutes early and sit in the car smoking, or fixing your make-up, or chatting on your cell phone. If you are there early, go in. All you have to say is, "Hi! I know I'm a bit early but I have a 3:00 interview with Mr. Smith. My name is Joe Brown." If they tell you that yes, you are early and you'll have to wait, offer to wait in your car - though they will almost always tell you to have a seat inside the building. If you do go back to wait in your car, again, don't smoke, don't fix your make-up, don't have a lengthy phone conversation.
- Go over your resume so you know it in detail and be prepared to answer for any lapses in working dates.
- The biggest thing is act like you care and that you want this job and always, above all, be polite.
