Don’t let your attire eliminate you from a job competition.
Choose the right clothes for your next job interview. Studies show that people make decisions about others based on their appearance in the first few seconds after meeting. Do you look like you could do the job? Use these interview dress code tips to make a good first impression at your next interview.
Interview Dress Code
Find out about the company dress code before your interview. Make sure you dress in comparable or more formal attire than is the norm at the company. Even in a company that has a very casual dress code, it is appropriate to dress up for your first interview.
Clothes
Choose something professional and conservative. Neutral colours such as black, navy or grey are safe choices. Clothes that fit well will leave the best impression. Choose something that makes you feel both confident and comfortable. Invest in a couple of outfits and be ready to attend multiple interviews with a company.
A shirt with a collar is a must for men and can be a good choice for women too. Suits are not as common today, so find out what is the norm before investing in a suit jacket. In the Financial and Legal professions suits and ties are still common.
Shoes
Clean, polished, and comfortable shoes are important. For men choose loafers or lace up dress shoes. For women flats or low heel shoes or boots are good choices. For some positions steeled toed shoes may be appropriate if a plant tour is part of the interview process.
Outerwear
Canadians need to be prepared for all types of weather. Make sure you dress for the weather in clean and appropriate outerwear. Depending on the day, pack a hat, gloves or an umbrella.
Bag
Leave your backpack or gym bag at home. For women bring a professional purse or laptop bag. For men bring a laptop bag or tablet case. If you prefer not to carry a bag this is fine.
Accessories
Keep your accessories simple. Minimal jewelry or a small scarf is preferred to oversized accessories. For men a belt to match your shoe colour is a good choice.
Grooming
Good grooming is a must. Consider a haircut and beard trim before the interview. Fingernails should be clean and trimmed. For women, keep your make up natural. If you wear nail polish make sure it is a neutral colour and freshly applied – no polish is better than chipped nail polish. Many workplaces are scent free so it is best to go without fragrance.
Tattoos and Piercing
The issue of tattoos and piercings is complicated. Tattoos have become common place. Studies indicate that 40% of US millennials have at least 1 tattoo. Data is likely similar for Canadians in this age category. Many workplaces are accepting of tattoos. Body piercings are not as readily accepted. It will often depend on the workplace, the job and even the size and location of the piercing. A small nose ring might be fine, where ear spacers might not be acceptable. Should you hide tattoos and leave nose rings at home? The answer to this question will depend on each individual. If you want to work somewhere where you can freely display your tattoos or piercing, you might want to be up front about your appearance. On the other hand, you might want to get thru the first interview before discussing this issue.
Final Word about Personal Style
Do I really need to dress this way for a job interview? This advice is useful for many job seekers, but not for everyone. If you work in a creative field you will likely choose to dress in a manner that reflects your personal style. If you are most comfortable in a t-shirt, jeans and runners and you plan to wear this to work daily, you may choose not to dress up for an interview. This interview dress code advice is aimed at giving you a chance to make a good first impression. The plan is to have the interviewer focus on your job skills, not on how you look.
Read more about the types of snap decisions we make about others in the Science of First Impressions.
