A friend of mine is a manager of a mall store up near Chicago. She was telling me the other day that one of her coworkers was going to interview with another store in the mall, which is one of the top department stores in the nation. The coworker asked for some advice on what to wear to this interview to which my friend responded, "dress as nicely as possible." The result? In the middle of winter in Chicago, this woman went to a job interview wearing a sundress and 4" strappy heels. She didn't get the job.
It's mind-boggling to me the amount of people who just don't know how to dress for a job interview anymore. Even though the economy is getting better, there is still massive competition for each and every job and dressing inappropriately can cost you a position. Jeans and a tee may get you hired at McDonald's, but it will do almost zero for you anywhere else.
Before you go to ANY interview, you need to research the company and the position to get an idea of what to wear. Some places will give you suggestions but most companies are going to expect you to know what is appropriate attire to wear to an interview. To simplify things, I've narrowed job interviews into two categories: Professional and Business Casual. If you're interviewing for any professional position such as a lawyer, doctor, salesperson, look to the Professional inspiration board for ideas. If you're applying for positions such as a receptionist, clerk, waitress, etc., look to the Business Casual inspiration board.
For any Professional-level position you may be interviewing for, a suit is mandatory. I featured a skirt here, but you can wear pants if you want. If you do wear a skirt, hose or tights are almost mandatory, unless it's 90 degrees or above. Yes, it's old-fashioned and I don't agree with the practice, but many professional settings
still require women to wear hose with skirts or dresses. My thought on the matter is this: even if the other women in the office aren't wearing hose, you're not a member of the staff. You're probably going up against other people with very similar credentials and you
need small little details to help you step up your game. Keep shirt colors and prints conservative, avoiding any bright or neons. Pastels are fine as long as the shirt is a solid color, a light blue or pale yellow button down shirt would be a solid pick. If you're going to wear a print, again look for something conservative. The medallion shirt in the middle of the board above features an outgoing print in conservative colors. Polka dots or pinstripes are also acceptable. Accessories need to be kept to a minimum. A watch, simple earrings and necklace are all you need, anymore is just overkill and distracting. Shoes also should be conservative and clean. Your toes nor the back of your feet should be showing. Your bag should also simple and clean. This isn't the place for Vera Bradley or Fossil's "retro" prints.
For hair and makeup, less is more. Style your hair simply, either down or pulled back in a low ponytail, bun, or chignon. Your makeup shouldn't be sparkly. A little shimmer on your eyelids will be fine, but your blush and lip color shouldn't have a speck of glitter in it. I also advise wearing lipstick or a colored balm, not lip gloss. Perfume should also be kept light. One spirtz will be enough.
As opposed to a Professional look, you can do so much more with Business Casual. However, while you can wear brighter colors and don't have to wear tights or hose, you still need to look put together. With the exception of thick sweaters, everything that can be pressed needs to be pressed. I also recommend wearing a cardigan or blazer no matter your outfit. You still need to look professional, but you don't have to wear a full suit. Dresses need to have sleeves or you need to add a blazer or cardigan. No bare shoulders or upper arms are acceptable at ANY interview. If you're going to wear a bright color like the coral shirt above, every other piece of your outfit needs to be a neutral. If you were going to wear the sweater with mint stripes, pairing it with the mint flats lets you be both trendy and acceptable. Jewelry can be a bit more fun and varied, but keep to one piece (one necklace, one bangle, etc) to maintain a professional image.
For makeup and hair, I still say less is more. A simple hairstyle with simple makeup is always the best bet for any job interview.
Here's a sampling of things you should never wear to a job interview:
These are pretty self-explanatory to most people, but I still see women wearing jeans and rubber flip-flops to job interviews. No printed tees, no mini skirts, nothing sheer. Also avoid printed hand bags and anything that may seem rather juvenile for a thirty-year woman applying for an administrative assistant job.
My friend's story about her inappropriately dressed coworker reminds me of the group interview I had to go to for my current job. One of the women I was talking with before the session started was wearing this:
This woman was a college graduate. She didn't get the job.
If you truly want a job, you're going to have to take the interview seriously and that includes dressing correctly. There's an old saying along the lines of "Dress for the job you want, not the job you have." I hate clichéd quotes with a burning passion, but there is some truth in that one. Like I said earlier, job competition is fierce, especially for jobs that offer benefits. When I go in to an interview, I like to assume that most of the candidates have similar qualifications and therefore I need something to set me apart from the rest of the pack. Dressing appropriately can help launch you over the similar candidates who chose to show up in a sundress and leggings.
