04 May 09 Attire

There is a type of dress code when it comes to a job interview. There are dos and donts when it comes to what to wear.

Many times the first impression that you make with the clothing that you wear to an interview is the most important.

You will never get a second chance to make a first impression.

It is better to over dress for an interview. If you are truly unsure of what type of dress is expected at a job, it is better to dress your best for an interview.

This means a suit and button down top. This basic interview outfit will be overkill for many interviews.

The upside to choosing this tried and true look is that you will look pulled together and there is no way that the interviewer will think that you are under dressed.

There are many interview situations that do not require a suit. Many jobs are more casual then a suit and there for you can dress down a little bit.

For men, a button down shirt and tie with a nice pair of dress pants are ok for a more casual interview. Women can pair a nice blouse with dress slacks or a skirt.

The most important thing to remember when choosing an interview outfit is to make sure that you err on the conservative side. Tops should not be low cut and skirts should be no shorter then knee length for women.

For men, you will want to keep the color choices for your outfit on a muted scale.

All interview outfits should fit you well. An ill fitting interview outfit shows the interviewer that you do not take the time to make sure that your clothes fit. They will wonder if you will take the time to make sure that your work has no errors.

You also need to make sure that your interview clothes are pressed and wrinkle free. This will give you a clean crisp look.

You hair should be neat and tidy. Any makeup that you wear should be subtle and understated. Perfume and cologne should be skipped on the day of the interview.

You want to make sure that your accessories do not make an impression for you. You want to make sure that the interviewer is concentrating on what you have to say and not on what you are wearing.

It is a good idea to have 2 to 3 interview outfits that you can go to. Many jobs require more then one interview. You will need to have different outfits for each interview that you go on. Set these outfits aside in your closet so that you know they are what to wear to an interview.

What Not to Wear

Sweat pants
Jeans
Sneakers
Open toe sandals
Flip flops
Sleeveless tops
Low cut tops
Clothing with stains and holes
T-shirts
Baseball hat
Sunglasses
Workout clothing
Shorts
Skirts shorter then knee length
Lots of jewelry
Perfume and cologne
Bright makeup

Tags: Blouse, Button Down, Casual Interview, Cologne, Color Choices, Conservative Side, Dos And Donts, Dress Code, Dress Pants, Dress Slacks, Interview Outfit, Interview Situations, Interview Women, Interviewer, Job Interview, Knee Length, Perfume, Second Chance To Make A First Impression, Shirt And Tie, Skirts