Dress for Success - What to Wear to the Interview

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What should I wear to my interview?
Employers expect job candidates to dress nicely for interviews. What you wear and how you style your hair sends a message to the employer. So, it is good to dress conservatively for your interview. But it is also good to fit into the company’s culture and what they wear at work. So if you are confused about what to wear, you can use these lists adapted from How to Get a Job and Keep It:

Women
 - Matching skirted suit (first best choice)
 - Matching pantsuit (second best choice)
 - Jacket with a skirt
 - Jacket with a dress
 - Jacket with slacks

Men
 - Matching suit (best choice)
 - Blazer with slacks
 - Sport coat with slacks
 - Shirt with tie and slacks
 - Sweater with slacks

If you do not have these types of clothes, check with your local employment agency to see if there is a community service that provides dress clothes for interviews. Many community “closets” have suits you can have or borrow for interviews.

Use this list adapted from Interviews for Dummies for personal appearance:

Women
 - No heavy makeup
 - No provocative clothing (see-through, tight, slits, super-short skirts)
 - No flashy jewelry
 - No strappy shoes, sandals, or towering heels
 - No big hair or elaborate styles
 - No hosiery runs or designer stockings

Men
 - No sagging coat lining or saggy pants
 - No five o’clock shadows (be cleanly shaved, and if you have a beard or other facial hair, make sure it’s neatly trimmed)
 - No short or white socks
 - No mismatched belts and shoes (same color leather)
 - No ties too short or too long or bowties
 - No wrinkled or soiled clothing

Everyone
 - No tinted glasses
 - No joke or fad watches
 - No visible body piercing or multiple earrings in one ear
 - No visible body art; cover tattoos if possible
 - No inconsistent look – no sneakers with suits