The idea of having an interview is nerve-wracking to anyone. You want to make the best first impression so it’s natural to want to look and feel your best for it.
Company’s cultures are changing over time but more often than not, most companies still remain rather conservative especially when it comes to interviews. If you would like to learn some tips on what to choose to wear for an interview, this is the post for you!
To help you dress your best for such an important occasion I’ve gathered some tips to help you dress the part.
1 / Do your research before anything
The first thing you will need to do is get an understanding of the company’s culture and their dress code. Have a look at their website, social media, or even drive around the company to see what others wear to the office.
Also think about the industry they are in, for instance, some marketing or advertising companies can be more on the creative side and might like to keep things a bit more smart casual, in that case, a corporate attire might not fit what they are looking for.
2 / First impressions count
To make a great impression you need to dress for success, Have the attitude and the belief that job is already yours! They say it only takes a few seconds for people to form an opinion about you based on the way you look. Therefore it’s important to be clear on what message you wish to portray to those doing the interview as soon as they meet you for the first time. At the end of the day, it’s only 10-15% of what you say verbally during the interview that counts, the rest it’s all visual.
3 / Your message is the key
This part is where you have to think about what words would describe you? Are you forward thinker, are you creative, are you assertive, do you think outside the box, are you a leader, are you approachable, are you friendly, do you have authority, etc?
Write down the words you want to be described and be seen as at the interview so when they ask you questions about your work experience, you can tell you are that person you are describing to them.
4 / Choosing what to wear according to colour and your message
When choosing your outfit you want to make sure that you feel comfortable, confident and beautiful in it as this will also help with your body language during the interview. But something that is very powerful is choosing the right colour for your outfit. There are different associations between each colour and depending on your message, there are different colours I can suggest to choose from:
Look authoritative and professional (eg. Corporate Role)
Wear dark colours, in particular black, charcoal, medium to dark grey, and navy.
You will appear firm and reserved. The darker the shade the more powerful, intimidating and threatening the effect. It gives the impression to make decisions, especially the combination of black and white, as for you there are no grey areas. With navy, you give the impression of commitment and capability.
Appear trustworthy (eg, Doctor)
Wear clear earthy colours combined with navy. Earth tones such as tan, camel, light yellow, beige, you appear as warm, open and down to earth giving the impression of credibility and dependable. The navy suggests reasonableness and professionalism.
Appear creative and forward thinker. (eg. Designer)
Someone creative should wear patterns and brighter colours. Strong bright colours are for someone who us expressive, extrovert and positive. If you add purple it relates you to someone of higher intellect.
Appear calm, friendly and reassuring (eg. Teacher)
Pastel colours are that are calming, quiet and diplomatic. Green, for example, is soothing and peaceful. Pink is sensitive and caring, Other warm colours such as earth tones are centred and down to earth.
6 / Other Tips
- Shoes –your shoes should be in general somewhat conservative and your heels shouldn’t be too high. If you don’t like heels then don’t wear them if they make you uncomfortable, Stick to something low and basic. Of course, depending on the industry you may need to adjust, for example, if you are applying for a job as a teacher, probably you would be ok with a flat shoe but if you are going for a role in the fashion industry you would want a more glamours type of heels that make a statement.
- Perfume –make sure to either not wear any or put on something that it is not too overwhelming
- Makeup –wear subtle makeup, nothing too heavy. A more natural look always a better option. Of course, there is nothing wrong with a red lippy if you want to show a bit more of authority.
- Jewellery – Go easy on the jewellery and keep it simple. The last thing you want is making a lot of noise and distracting the person who is interviewing you. Also, I would avoid piercings in your face.
- Nails – Colours such as nude, soft pink, or red are professional colours. Avoid sparkles, designs, hot pink, neon, or any other bold colours.
Above all, be yourself, believe in yourself as others will believe in you too!
If you think you need a hand to go shopping for some interview outfits, feel free to schedule a complimentary chat with me.
