How to Dress for Success on a Job Interview
Important Attire and Personal Hygiene Tips to Win Over Employers
Apr 28, 2009
Every hiring manager has interviewing horror stories. Candidates who are overly casual, abrasive, or who are clearly not qualified for the job are par for the course in the human resources department. One common mistake made by interviewees is disregarding proper attire and personal hygiene. However, a few simple tips can help candidates make a great first impression on an employer and can aid in landing the job.
Choosing Clothes to Wear for a Job Interview
Sometimes it can be difficult trying to figure out how to dress for an interview. As a general rule, today’s business world is business-casual. Business casual means a dress shirt, clean slacks, and brown or black semi-casual shoes for men; and a blouse, slacks, and semi-casual shoes for women. However, there are some exceptions to these rules:
- government jobs are more formal, thus candidates should follow “business” dress code (business suit for both men and women)
- business managers, politicians, and executives should follow formal business dress code
- some parts of the country (e.g., some areas of the the American south) are more casual, allowing interviewees to wear jeans and a dress shirt or blouse
Clothing Not to Wear on an Interview
When selecting an outfit to wear for a job interview, the candidate must avoid clothing that appears too casual. While overdressing for the interview isn’t the best option, underdressing is far worse and makes the candidate appear lazy, ineffectual, and lacking the ability to follow through on the job. Clothes to avoid wearing for an interview include
- open-toe sandals
- sneakers
- white socks
- tights
- sweats
- jeans
- dirty jackets or worn windbreakers
- sweaters
- T-shirts
- clothing displaying religious or political themes
- body piercings
- jewelry of a controversial nature
Preparing Clothing for the Interview
When selecting clothes for the job interview, make sure they are clean and well-pressed. Iron any clothing that appears wrinkled. Make sure clothes are free of pilling, wear, and tears. If necessary, send clothing to the dry cleaner or use a home dry cleaning product. Also make sure the outfit matches well in terms of style and color.
Ensuring Proper Personal Hygiene for Job Interviews
Proper personal hygiene is very important for making a good first impression on the employer. A candidate who takes care of him or herself tells the employer the candidate cares about his or her outward appearance. And if the person cares about outward appearance, he or she is likely to care about the job and will likely put just as much effort into cultivating a career with the company. Tips for proper personal hygiene include
- clean teeth
- fresh breath
- hair neatly combed or brushed
- adequate (not excessive) makeup
- updated hairstyle
- clean fingernails
- washed face
- clean-shaven face
- tattoos hidden under clothing as much as possible
- perfume or cologne
- removing body piercings prior to interview
Bottom Line on Dressing for Interview Success
Bottom line, first impressions are very important to employers. Following general guidelines for selecting an outfit for the interview, preparing clothes for the interview, not appearing too casual, avoiding certain clothing, and maintaining proper personal hygiene will go a long way to making a smashing impression on the company that may aid in receiving that coveted job offer.
See related articles, “What Employers Look For in a Job Candidate,” “10 Steps to a Successful Job Interview," and "Best Ways to Prepare for a Job Interview."
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