I remember the days coming out of college and getting that first job interview. I can not tell you how nervous I was to walk through the door of a big corporate office at a very young age, stare an older person in the eyes and convince them that with my “no experience” I was the right person to hire.
I am sure we have all been there and that scenario is nerve racking enough. Now imagine if I had walked into that office with a wrinkled suit, messed up hair, and completely unshaven. The chances of getting a second interview, let alone a job offer would have been near zero.
Well years later I was on the other side of the interview process. For three years I was responsible for interviewing potential candidates to fill positions in my department. Much to my surprise I was flabbergasted to see the number of candidates that would walk through the door as if no one ever showed them how to dress.
It was simply amazing. Candidates that walked through the door wore wrinkled suits, to some not even wearing suits, to sporting nice new sneakers, yes I said sneakers, to one person who walked in wearing shorts and sandals. Maybe they had our job interview mixed up with something else. And after quizzing them on what we did, they probably did come in for the wrong job.
Needless to say, ladies and gentlemen, that although the days are long gone of your father's type of company where everyone wears suits and works a nine to five shift, there is not a quicker way to be disqualified from a job position (short of lying on your application) then to dress inappropriately for the interview.
Here are a couple of quick tips that I recommend. Dress as if you are going to a funeral. Yes I know it sounds morbid but it is true. Would you disrespect a friend or relative by showing up in bad clothing? No of course you wouldn't. You would dress in a nice dark suit, cleanly pressed, with a nice tie and shoes. You would be clean shaven and of course well groomed.
It might not be the nicest way of putting it but sometimes when people just do not get it, you have to put it in terms they will understand.
And for crying out loud, men trim those fingernails!
