Whether you have a job interview for a company that prefers business dress, business casual or casual dress, it is absolutely vital to make sure you are appropriately dressed for your interview. First impressions matter, and what you wear often speaks louder than you do.
Let’s take a look at few fashion faux pas you definitely want to avoid.
Business Dress
For men or women, it is best to avoid “trendy” suits with odd cuts. Stick with traditional, tailored clothes that are tailored to your form. Elegance never goes out of style. For colors, once again, traditional wins out. Navy blue, black and charcoal are the best choices since these colors are rarely offensive. For accessories like jewelry and ties, avoid anything too flashy, colorful or eye catching. You don’t want a loud accessory drowning you out.
Business Casual
With business casual there are a lot more clothing options, but there are also a lot more ways to potentially mess up your outfit. For men, a nice dress shirt with slacks is appropriate and a tie is optional. For women, again, a nicely tailored dress shirt or tasteful sweater goes well with slacks or a skirt. Skirt length should be at slightly above the knee or lower. Avoid any skirts that go well above the knee.
Casual
Even though a company may choose to let their employees dress casually, that does not mean that anything goes. Even casual wear should be picked out carefully. For men, look for a clean, non-wrinkled golf or polo shirt and a clean pair of jeans. For women, a nicely tailored pair of jeans, neither too tight nor too loose, with a tasteful blouse. T-shirts should be avoided for job interviews, unless you are applying for a trade position, where this look is typically prevalent.
When in Doubt
The old saying, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have,” is always applicable. Before you go to your interview, check with the secretary to see what type of dress is preferred at the company. Most will be more than willing to help you out.
If you don’t know what type of dress is preferred, err on the side of caution. If you are applying with a professional company, business dress is your best option. If it appears that everyone there is dressed in business casual, it is a simple matter to remove your coat.
Want more information about how to impress during your next job interview? The pros at SoloPoint Solutions are here to help!