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They say that the first impression is the last. While that's not necessarily true, the first impression is quite an important part of convincing people of your credibility and worth. This holds specifically true for job interviews - where your association with an organisation depends on how presentable you look, what you say, and how you conduct yourself.
The parts of one’s personality are unique to every individual, but when it comes to dressing, there are some codes of conduct that you need to follow. After all, you can lose points for dressing inappropriately while sitting for a job interview. So, here are seven golden rules on how to dress for an interview that you should follow to get that dream job!
7 tips to dress right for a job interview
1. Check the environment
Dressing for the occasion is vital for every context and more so if it's a job that's in question. You can't wear a party dress to a corporate interview or a formal suit to a production house where your interviewer is dressed in casuals! A little bit of a background check goes a long way in acing a job interview. For instance, you can wear tailored suits, button-down shirts with lace-up dress shoes, ties, and stockings for formal environments. In a casual workspace, like a start-up or a tech company, how to dress for an interview is not a challenging task. But yes, the casuals you choose for a job interview should be decent, such as button-downs, pants, or jeans paired with t-shirts and tops. If it's a job interview at an art gallery or fashion house, then you can perhaps be a little more creative with your outfit.
2. Fit check
Making sure that your outfit fits you well is one of the first things on the checklist of how to dress for an interview. A loose or tight dress is unpleasant to the eyes and uncomfortable for you. So do a fit check, alter your outfit if you have to, and you're ready to rock your interview!
3. Accessorise well
The entirety of your outfit includes the accessories you wear with it - they can literally make or break an outfit. Choosing watches, belts, earrings, neckpieces, etc, tastefully instantly uplifts the appeal of your outfit. However, you must be careful against over-accessorising as it can become a distraction.
4. Choosing the right colours
Colours have a huge role in making us look presentable, and we must remember that not all colours and patterns are for all occasions. Choosing neutral colours like navy, grey, or black is a safe option for job interviews. Interview attire for women can also feature white (perhaps a white blouse or shirt), as white makes one look professional and organised. People also prefer solids over patterns for formal interviews as they wish to avoid distractions, but then, a more vibrant work environment gives you the freedom to dress innovatively, too.
5. Play it safe
The internet will overload you with the dos and don'ts of a job interview, but there are rules on how to dress for an interview, too. For starters, avoid using heavy or overpowering perfume as it can be a turn-off in a closed-door interview room or may not be to the taste of the interviewer. Secondly, do not wear poorly fitted, wrinkled, and torn garments, as they make you look unprofessional. Thirdly, do not over-accessorize as it can be distracting, speaking ill of your work ethic and showing your disregard for the expected code of conduct of the workspace. Lastly, your outfit must not make you look like an outsider; it must be in line with the culture of the company and make you instantly fit in!
6. Prioritising comfort
A dress that lets you breathe free and feel good about yourself automatically boosts your confidence. Being comfortable in your clothing is of utmost importance when sitting for a job interview. After all, there's already the stress of being at your best behaviour in front of the panel, why make things difficult with an uncomfortable outfit!? Consider a practice sitting and walking session in the interview outfit, make sure the fabric suits your skin and the fit doesn't make you feel restricted. Sometimes it's better to stick to outfits you've worn and loved comfort-wise, instead of investing in a new outfit and experimenting with it.
7. The right footwear
Yet another vital aspect of how to dress for an interview involves choosing the right footwear. Footwear is very much a part of the overall outfit and needs to be chosen as per the environment. A formal outfit would need formal footwear, like pumps or low heels. For a more casual interview outfit, you can choose closed-toe flats. No matter what footwear you choose, make sure it's clean and in good condition.