What blunder could this possibly be? A fashion blunder. Now, I'm not talking about wearing brown shoes with a black belt, or wearing white after labor day (which, by the way, is no longer a fashion faux pas). What I am referring to is not being physically and visually prepared for a job interview. This blog is dedicated to pointing out the mistakes that job seekers should make every effort to avoid in the realms of hygiene, attire, and accessorizing. Believe me when I say: this mistakes can truly make or break an interview!
First, let's address hygiene. Please use common sense! When you are going for an interview, be sure your teeth are brushed, you've showered, and that you wear deodorant. Now that I've covered the three basic bases that every mother generally covers before you hit puberty, I'll hit on the less obvious faux pas many job seekers may make:
- Make sure to remove any dirt from under your nails. Believe it or not, some employers are very attentive to small details like this. If you don't pay attention to your own personal cleanliness, what sort of image will you project in the workplace?
- Do not use an overwhelming perfume or cologne. You may smell good to yourself, but the scent may steer prospective employers away. Some individuals have severe allergies to perfumes and colognes. If your interviewer cannot stop sneezing throughout your interview because he or she is allergic to what you've poured on to cover the smell of smoke or whatever else, chances are, you won't be landing this position.
- Try not to smoke prior to an interview. The smell on your clothes and your breath can really irritate your interviewer, and may lead to a lasting impression you simply do not want to leave. If you absolutely must smoke prior to an interview, use a lightly scented perfume (at bear minimum) and a breath mint to try and mask the smell that could be hanging around.
- Try to avoid running your hands through your hair or fidgeting with it excessively. The natural oils in your hands may make your hair look greasy and may lead your interviewer to think you have poor cleansing habits. Although it is a completely unfair assessment, unfortunately, it does happen.
- Ladies, use caution in the make-up department. You do not want to go bear-faced to an interview as you may give the impression that you simply do not care enough to make a good impression; however, on the other hand, you do not want to go to your interview looking like a lady of the night either! Be tasteful with your choices, and use caution. If you are uncomfortable, it will show.
Now let's move on to attire and accessories. I know that the majority of job seekers don't have a lot of money to spare, so this next suggestion may take some of you by surprise; however I promise there is a method to my "madness." A good rule of thumb to abide by: purchase one nice suit. Yes, a "nice" suit may run you anywhere between $200 - $300, but the possibilities are endless when you buy the right suit for your interviews. For instance, I purchased a black designer suit for attending job interviews. I put the purchase on my credit card, as the funds were not readily available, and it certainly paid off. I was able to wear a different under shirt with the suit for each interview, switch the shoes I chose to wear with the suit depending on my interview location, and accessorize tastefully for each appointment.
A standard black suit presents many options when it comes to dressing it up. If you cannot afford a designer suit for the purpose of interviewing, you may want to try a store like Target, Walmart, or Steinmart. These stores often have nice looking suits for half the cost. Although the suit may not last as long as a more expensive suit, it will still serve the same purpose for those coveted interviews you've worked so hard to get! If you cannot afford a suit at all, there are a few options you may consider for interview attire:
- Where a flattering pair of plain black pants or a pencil skirt (for ladies, of course). Make sure they are in good condition (no holes, snags, or frays), and be sure they are pressed when wearing them to an interview. You may also opt for another neutral like chocolate brown or slate gray.)
- Pair your pants with a bright or bold colored top. For men, do not wear a polo style shirt to an interview. Always opt for a button-up dress shirt, with a collar. Invest in a neutral tie that may be matched with a number of different shirts and may still be worn with your chosen pants. (For those of you who are matching-impaired: slate gray goes well with pinks, reds, purples, and blues. Black may go with just about any color, but try to avoid brown and black on top if you're wearing black on the bottom. Brown pants are excellent with whites, greens, tans, and other subtle colors.)
- When choosing footwear, consider three things: length of pants (or skirt for ladies), the location of your interview, and color of your attire. If you are wearing long pants (ladies) wearing a nice pair of high heels will elongate your legs and give you a more confident stature. Try to avoid open toed shoes at all cost, unless (ladies) you have a conservative peep toe shoe you can wear. (Note: If you do not have well maintained toe nails, do not wear open toed shoes!!) If you're wearing black pants or a black shirt, wear black shoes or a color shoe that will pop your outfit. Try to avoid wearing any bold colors with brown pants or skirts - this often presents a distraction.
Khaki pants, cargo pants, shorts, or "skorts" are not appropriate interview attire! Never, ever go to an interview wearing these items and expect to land the position. (The only exception here is for men; khaki colored dress slacks are okay.) Ladies, do not opt for a tee shirt or polo style shirt... EVER This makes your interviewer think that you simply do not care enough about your appearance to put yourself together. It's the sad truth, but first impressions are everything. You may not get the opportunity to prove yourself a second time, so don't chance it by being careless with your wardrobe.
The last and final subject we're going to touch on is accessories. This is a pretty simple fix:
- Ladies: limit rings to a wedding band, engagement ring (or set), or a single ring on each hand. Do not wear a bold or bulky necklace or earrings. Settle for a simple pair of hoop earrings, studs, or other subtle piece of jewelery for your ears and neck. Bulky pieces are extremely distracting and may take away from your interviewers attentiveness to what is important: your credentials!
- Men: Black shoes, black belt. Brown shoes, brown belt. No jewelery, unless it is discreet, and absolutely do not wear sandals!!
As I previously stated... it's sad, but it's true: employers will always see your appearance before hearing what you have to say when it comes to an interview. Choose your attire carefully and bear in mind: the impression you make now is the impression you need to abide by if you do land the job. Dress for success (as cliche as it sounds), and you will be successful.
Kudos!
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