A few weeks ago there was an article published in U.S.A. Today wherein it was said that an increasing number of candidates appearing for an interview have started wearing spike heals footwear, jeans and purple sweat suits. There is also a section of interviewees who were quite open about flaunting their pierced body parts at the interviews, while some chewed gum inside the interview hall. Quite a few interviewers have rightly felt assaulted in a sense and a recruiter had to sternly ask one candidate whose trousers were down below his hips, to “Pull your pants up.” No wonder a high percentage of such candidates had to pay for their behavior with failing to make the grade.

When Attending An Interview be Well Dressed

You might wonder whether dressing up well for an interview have any effect on the final outcome? From psychological studies, a person has made an assessment and judgement of your character within the first 5 seconds of seeing you. No words has to be exchanged. And you shall be startled to know that in a large number of cases, it does. I have had the opportunity to interview people applying for jobs on a few occasions and I shall never forget a gentleman I once interviewed for a position. He was jobless for a couple of months and he wanted to explain to me why, thereafter he took-off his shirt so that I could see an injury mark caused when a heavy wood fell on him in the forest (this is a true story). But I couldn’t award him the job for two reasons, I could not get sympathetic and give him the job and secondly he went over the board to explain all things related to his injury but never spoke to anything regarding his past job experience that he was sorry to take of his shirt in such a manner. There was also a young lady who came to the interview wearing such in a bright red skirt so short and tight that she could hardly sit down!

What you should ideally have in mind is an attire which shall present you as being a person who has a good dressing sense for that particular occasion. Just imagine if you went to the interview in casual clothing and the remaining candidates assembled there are somewhat conservatively dressed then you could quickly be thinking of leaving the place without appearing for that interview. Thus if any sort of doubt persist then it best advised to conservatively.

Thus we list for you some tips regarding women’s & men’s attire that you would find helpful:

Women’s Interview Attire

• Avoid carrying a purse; rather use a briefcase or portfolio.
• Being conservatively dressed is ideal and shoes should have smaller heals.
• Skirts should extend past the bottom of your fingertips when your arms are by your side.
• Keep jewelry to a minium. Avoid interesting jewelry pieces that could distract the interviewer.
• A tidy hair style coupled with minimal perfume & make-up.
• Wear your makeup conservatively. You are not going to a night club to pick up guys.

Men’s Interview Attire

• Wear a conservative suit with a tie preferably solid color; avoid a bow.
• Dark socks, preferably black, with dress shoes.
• Tidy, well-groomed hair.
• Fragrant things like cologne, aftershave, hair gels should be kept to a minimal and better off if used very lightly.
• You should carry all things in a briefcase or portfolio.
• Wear very limited jewelry. A nice dress watch or no watch at all.