You only get one chance to make a first impression! Deciding what to wear every morning is hard enough without the added stress of having an interview. So how can we decide on the perfect outfit when meeting with our potential new employer? In an earlier blog post, we briefly touched on dressing for an interview, but as we clear out our closets during spring cleaning let’s get a little more in depth:
Prepare
Hopefully, you’re reading this post a few days in advance, because you want to make sure that your best outfits are actually clean and available come interview day! If you think you need a haircut, now is the best time to get one. During the morning of the interview, you’re going to have a lot on your mind—the last thing you need is a mad scramble to piece together an outfit before you walk out the door. Something as simple as having your outfit laid out the night before can be quite useful during what’s typically a little stressful of a morning.
How to Choose your Clothing
The old adage of “Dress for the job you want” has stood the test of time. If you are heading into a professional environment, you’ll need to go full business attire—but most positions aren’t strictly like that anymore. A great rule of thumb is never going below business casual, even if you are interviewing for a position where you’ll be in a uniform or a warehouse the majority of the time. For those manual labor jobs, try to throw on a shirt with a collar—a casual polo or button up will do just fine! For women, closed-toe shoes and the same general business casual theme will suffice.
Present Yourself Better Than the Next Person
Think about it this way: You want to look better than the next person, so if the position is for a pretty informally dressed job, just avoid t-shirts, sweatshirts, and athletic wear. You never know what could be the deciding factor between you and another candidate! If all other attributes are equal, the hiring manager is going to go with the person who made an effort to present themselves better. And in an interview, the ultimate goal is always going to be landing the job!
No matter what outfit you’re in, be confident. Having confidence and positivity can shape your entire outlook on the interview process. Projecting that positive energy is a great way for a candidate to separate themselves from the pack!