What to wear to your Job Interview to make a good impression

In a way, your job interview is very much like a first date. You are meeting someone for the first time and in that short period you will be sized up, examined and your every word will be

carefully scrutinized.

Let’s face it, the idea here is the same as a first date. When you are at a job interview you will be nervous, unsure about what the next question will be and trying to be likeable and successful all at the same time. It is nerve wracking! But there is a way to crack the secret code that will at least give you a chance even if your resume is not quite up to snuff. The way you come off during your job interview will carry more weight than the list of qualifications you entered the room with. That is because first impressions still rule when it comes to searching for work.

So how should you dress? As it turns out, there is something called a company culture. We can thank such things as ‘casual fridays’ and younger people bursting into the world of entrepreneurship as shifting the job interview dress code slightly. Still, there are some safe bets that will always have an effect on that first impression. Read on to find out what to wear to your job interview to make a good impression.

Casual

If you are interviewing for a job in construction, plumbing or any trade where you will very

likely go home dirtier than when you left, dressing casual is a smart plan. This does not mean torn clothing, but possibly clothing you can see yourself heading to work as a repairman or carpenter in. Relaxed, comfortable, neat and clean are the words that should guide you here.

Business Casual

Dressing for jobs in such industries as education, retail sales, government agencies and real

estate require a different kind of attire. Business casual in this case would be slacks, dress shoes, blazers, skirts (below the knee), pant suits. Items that you would expect to see a clerk at a higher end clothing store to wear minus the high fashion part.

Conservative

Should your job interview be for a position in a financial institution, law office or as part of an

accountant’s office, you will need to look conservative. In other words, suits and ties, and other clothing combinations that are a notch above business casual. Make that a couple notches above business casual but slightly down the scale from formal.

Creative/Fashionable

This category is for those jobs that fall under the spectrum of entertainment, fashion and design (graphic and computer). You can get away with wearing denim to this kind of job interview but it better be your best pair. Imagine casual Friday is every day but a bit neater and cleaner and you will see a bit of a snapshot of what to wear in this circumstance.

When you select your job interview wardrobe there are a few important things to keep in mind. You have to try to match your clothing choice with what is commonly worn at the specific job.

That’s the company culture mentioned a few moments ago. If the company you hope to land a job with is hip and happening, you have to embrace that in your interview clothes.

Only dress up slightly more than that. If determining the company culture sounds like a daunting task, it really isn’t. All you need to do is quiz some of your contacts. If you have gotten this far in the job search – with a job interview scheduled – you must have cultivated contacts already on the inside. These are the people who can unlock the mystery of the company culture for you.

Ask them what everyone wears to work. Are the supervisors in a different kind of wardrobe?

What do your contacts typically wear on a normal work day? Also quiz them about what clothing they wore on their job interview. It may not seem important to them now, but any kind of edge you can grasp is going to help you with that all important first impression.

The Classics Never Fail

Speaking of the first impression, here are some tips that may sound dated but still provide you with some grounding when trying not to hyperventilate during the interview process. They have worked for generations before your job interview and they will continue to work. Keep them in your arsenal so you can pull them out when called on.

The Handshake

This is crucial. Your appearance will say a lot about you but your handshake can trump that –

especially if it is a bad one. Stick to a firm grip, two pumps and let go. Holding on too long is as bad as a weak or limp handshake. A firm one still translates to mean you have some level of self- confidence and that will score you a few essential points.

Eye Contact

Paying attention to your interviewer is essential. Leave cell phones and other handheld devices in the car to minimize distractions. Try to imagine the job interview as a normal conversation with someone you know and have respect for. Listen carefully to what is being said and respond correctly keeping yourself engaged as the process continues to unfold.

Posture

It should go without saying that putting your feet on the interview table or any other piece of

furniture is a no-no. That being said, while you want to appear relaxed during the job interview, you should also appear interested. This does not mean sitting erect with hands nearly folded in your lap, but not far from that stance – and anything but stiff and stuffy.

If you can fit all of these things into the right wardrobe, you will leave a great first impression

that should be professional and memorable. What you are trying to do is be memorable in a way where you stood out from the rest of those interviewed as a good fit based on both your

credentials and the way in which you presented yourself visually.