What Is Proper Professional Interviewing Attire?
When seeking new employment opportunities, wearing the proper attire to an interview is important. You only get one chance to make a great first impression. Therefore, you should carefully consider your attire before meeting with a prospective employer. Companies implement different dress codes. When you are unsure of a company’s dress policies, you should err on the side of caution and dress conservatively. Knowing the proper dress attire for an interview does not guarantee you the job, but you avoid automatic rejection for dressing improperly.
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Men’s Attire
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According to Virginia Tech's Career Services website, men going for safe dress choices should wear two-piece suits. Wearing a suit projects professionalism and shows the recruiter that you are serious about the job position. You should wear conservative dark colors, such as black, navy or gray. Wearing a bright red suit is likely to make a bad impression and cause the interviewer to have a difficult time taking you seriously. Although interviewers rarely care about the brand name of your clothes, your should wear quality-made attire. Cheap fabrics fail to make good impressions. Consider investing your money in a quality suit. You can wear this suit to all or most of your interviews.
Women’s Attire
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Professional attire for women includes conservative, dark-colored skirt or pant suits. If you wear a skirt to an interview, the length of your skirt should be near your knees. Wearing a short skirt makes it difficult for the interviewer to respect you. Avoid wearing skirts with high splits. If you choose to wear makeup, keep it as light as possible. Flip flops and open-toed shoes are not professional. You should wear closed-toe pumps with conservative heels. Keep your purse small. Wearing a large handbag with extravagant colors or prints take away from the professional image you want to project.
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Advice for Everyone
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In additional to wearing proper clothing, you should take your entire appearance into consideration. Wear your hair neatly groomed. Although you may love the mohawk trend, an interviewer may consider it unprofessional. You should only use a light amount of fragrance. Carry a slim briefcase instead of a backpack or large bag. Avoid chewing gum or eating candy in an interview. Not only is chewing gum unprofessional, but it is also distracting. Your body should not carry odor and you should pay close attention to your dental hygiene. Wearing rings on all of your fingers fails to make a good first impression, so keep your jewelry to a minimum. You should polish your shoes and avoid wearing heels that are too high or worn.
Importance of Proper Attire
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If you dress like you are going to a party, employees may assume that you will handle your job with the same party mentality. Your attire supports the professional image you show in an interview. For example, if you attend an interview in casual attire but then speak about your professionalism, your attire makes it difficult for the employer to believe what you are saying. If you wear proper attire in an interview, your clothes will not detract from other aspects of the interview.
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