The Ways of Dressing to Face Your Job Interview

Unless your job requires you to wear a uniform, choosing clothing for work can be difficult. Of course there are industry standards, such as the navy blue suit for accountants and bankers. What do you wear, however, if you work in an industry where there really isn’t a typical style of dress? Complicating the matter further are companies that allow more casual attire. How do you keep from crossing over the line from casual to sloppy? What about the job interview? You want to look your professional best, but you also want to appear as if you “fit in”. Here are some pointers:

First and foremost, no matter what you wear, your clothes should be neat and clean.
Keep your shoes in good condition.
Your hair should be neatly styled.
For women: makeup should be subtle.
Nails should be clean and neat and of reasonable length.
Dress for the job you want. If you aspire to be a manager, dress like managers in your company do. Although in theory most people love the idea of not having to wear a suit to work, they are often confused by the casual dress policies some employers have instituted over the last few years. Here are some simple rules:

Casual doesn’t mean sloppy. Your clothing should still be neat and clean.
You can’t go wrong with khakis and a sport shirt or a nice sweater.
If you are going to a meeting or making a presentation, professional attire may be in order. When you go on a job interview you want to give the impression that you fit in. One way of doing this is to dress like employees of the company do. If you can, “case the joint” prior to showing up for an interview. By this I mean, hang out in the parking lot or in front of the building when employees are arriving for or leaving work in order to observe what they are wearing. If you see people dressed in casual attire, remember to take it up a notch. An interview requires more formal dress. While you may not have to wear a suit and tie, you should wear dress pants and a blazer or sport jacket.

STOP! Don’t throw away those business outfits you no longer want. If you have decided to revamp your wardrobe, there is an organization that needs your help. Dress For Success is a New York City based program that provides business attire to women who are looking for work but can’t afford appropriate interview attire –a kind of catch-22. This page lists similar programs across the United States. If you have clothing to donate, you should contact one of the programs listed.