The art of ensuring your attire is accurate for an interview can prove to be a challenge.
Days before the interview this can suggest complications and unnecessary stress.
However, there is a simple solution to this. Read below for my top tips when dressing to impress in a professional environment!
The first thing I would suggest is actually research the company that you have an interview scheduled with. Find out what their daily work wear is, and plan your outfit around that. You do not want to go to an interview wearing your Sunday best and heels when the company wears scrubs and jeans daily. They might perceive you as being too eager and over the top!
Once you have established their daily wear, try to plan your outfit accordingly. You want to blend in, however not too casually either. Make sure your outfit is one step ahead of their daily wear. Take that same example above - if the daily attire is scrubs and jeans, you might want to wear say formal jeans with formal flat shoes and an attractive blouse.
Ensure your clothing fits appropriately and there is no unnecessary skin showing! You want to land the position through your resume, experience, charm and mental capabilities, not through your physical attributes. ( This does not apply to jobs that do actually take your appearance as a vital factor, i.e., your physical characteristics are used in your daily job).
Make sure your outfit is set out at least a day in advance for you to ensure everything is in order. Make sure what needs to be steamed/ ironed is done so in a timely manner beforehand- this will also help reduce your stress levels on the day of the interview.
If you are in doubt, it is always better to tone down. Keep your make-up minimal, have your hair either tied up, or back- out of your face, and make sure you smell good!
Keep jewelry and accessories to a minimum. It is always advisable to wear a watch on the opposite hand you write with, for ladies simple earrings matching your shoes or pants, and a simple necklace if your outfit accommodates it. Never add bulky jewelry to your outfit as it will give an impression of unprofessionalism off. If you are wearing a formal suit, you can add in simple cufflinks. Earrings for women always compliment an outfit, if it is kept to a minimum. Wear basic earrings that preferably matching to your shoes or bottoms. Your top will most likely be a lighter color than your bottoms, so it will be easier to match earrings to the darker colors.
Make sure what needs to be hidden and tucked in is done so. For example bra straps need to be completely out of sight, as well as any underwear sticking out from the top of pants. Make sure your clothes are not too light for your underwear. You shouldn't be able to see any forms out underwear through your clothes. Also, relating to point 3, your clothing should fit appropriately enough so that your underwear outlines cannot be seen. This makes a very bad impression and creates a perception of unprofessionalism which psychologically could make employers think that of your work ethic.
Always remember that each company is different, so make sure to do your own thorough research and plan around what you think will be best. You are in the best position to make the correct decisions. If in doubt, just do some research. Anything is in your reach, it is only a skill to be learnt away.
Until next time.
Fran
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