Your Personal Appearance Can Help You Land A Job
Many of us say that the appearances of other people do not matter, but whether we are willing to admit it or not, someone’s appearance does affect how we perceive them. When we look at someone we instantly form perceptions about who they are, what they are like, and whether they may or may not be worth our time. This couldn’t be truer than when you go to a job interview where everything you do and say is very important.
Learn What To Wear And What Not To Wear On Interviews
Wearing the right clothes can help seal the deal and help you get the jobs that you want. On the flip side of that, you can be the most qualified person for the job, but if you wear the wrong clothing it could cost you the job.
The first thing you need to consider before you dress for your interview is the type of place you’ll be interviewing at. If you are interviewing at a place where everyone wears swimsuits, you’ll not want to wear a suit to make a good impression. You cannot take one set of guidelines and apply it to any job because each has its own rights and wrongs. If you’ll be working at a very formal place you’ll have to take that into consideration as well. You don’t necessarily have to wear what the people who already work there wear when you interview, but you should keep in mind the general tone and theme of the working environment.
Dressing as nicely as is appropriate is always advisable. Not only does dressing well help with the first impression, it also shows a prospective employer that you care enough about the interview to get yourself cleaned up. Conservative clothes are usually better, though you can let your personality shine through a bit. In business situations men are usually encouraged to wear slacks, a collared shirt and tie and maybe even a coat with the whole ensemble if it’s a very professional or formal environment. Women can usually pick between a skirt, dress, or dress slacks though they should be careful not to go too short with the skirt. A woman may also want to be careful what top she pairs with slacks or a skirt, as many may find a plunging neckline inappropriate in the workplace. Conservative is usually best because you can work with a bit and you don’t give off the impression that you are an unorganized young kid that doesn’t know how to dress in the professional environment.
The clothing you choose should incorporate your style, but you don’t want clothing that is so bright, bold, or unusual that it takes away from the person that you are and your abilities to do the job. Choose clothing that is somewhat neutral and flatters your body type in a professional manner. Accessorizing is acceptable in a limited capacity, but again remember not to accessorize so much that the person conducting your interview is more focused on what you are wearing than your abilities to get the job done. Men and women will find it helpful to remove piercing in the face and the mouth, which most professionals are simply not tolerant of in the workplace. You want to be memorable, but it’s not your clothes that you want them to remember!
Another important part of dressing for your interview is being well groomed. How clean and neat you appear is just as important as the clothing you are wearing, your education and experience, and your skills. If you do not look clean or able to present yourself in a professional manner you might as well not apply for most jobs. When you are being interviewed you have to dress and groom yourself as if you are already a representative of the company you are interviewing with. For men, this means you should be clean-shaven, and your hair should be brushed and style appropriately. For women you should be sure that your hair looks neat and clean, and make up should be applied in a subtle manner, again, to limit how much attention is paid to your physical appearance instead of your abilities.
Dressing for your interview may be something that you spend some time thinking about, and that is completely normal. You want to be yourself, but you also want to look your best and look as though you would be a natural fit for the job opening. Only you can gauge how professional or casual you’ll want to dress for your interview, but remember that too formal is better than too casual. Regardless of how you dress, be sure that you are well groomed and present yourself in the most professional manner possible. Allow the employer to catch glimpses of your personality, but do that through your interactions, not just what you’re wearing and how well groomed you are.
Even with the best experience, education, and personality if you do not know how to present yourself for an interview you’ll find that you cannot get the jobs that you really want. Spend some time really thinking about who you’ll be interviewing with and the first impression that you want to leave your interviewer with. If you put your best foot forward and dress professionally, you have the best shot at landing the job that you interview for.
