First Impression Counts; How to Dress for A Job Interview

Are you looking for a job? You've got the resume down, but do you know what to wear to an interview? It's not just about wearing a suit and tie or a fancy skirt. You need to make sure that your clothes match up with the type of job you want and don't send any "bad" messages about yourself.

Before the interview

• Don't wear a suit. Interviewers want to see your personality, not someone else's.
• Don't wear jeans, sneakers, flip-flops, or anything too casual like a hoodie or t-shirt. You want to look professional and serious in an interview setting; stick with dress pants and comfortable shoes that are appropriate for the work environment (shoes that aren't leather soled should be okay).
• If you're going for a laid-back look but want to keep it professional, try this: pair jeans with a collared shirt instead of a button-down and leave it untucked so there's not too much fabric on display at once; if you have an open collar shirt available then go ahead and use it! It will give off just enough "casual" vibe without being overbearing about how you feel about yourself as an employee who deserves respect from his/her boss which is ultimately what matters when trying to land any job.

During the interview

• Dress appropriately. The idea is not to impress the interviewer with your fashion sense, but rather to show respect and professionalism by wearing appropriate clothes for the interview.
• Dress for the position you are applying for. If you're interviewing for a position at a high-end department store, black dress shoes aren't going to fly you'll want something more casual like loafers or low heels. If the job requires hard hats and overalls, don't wear a suit!
• Dress in layers so you can adjust accordingly if needed during the course of your day (and remember: if it gets cold at night, take off those extra layers).
• Avoid over-accessorizing; stick to one or two simple pieces such as earrings or a necklace instead of five bracelets stacked on each wrist!
• Wear heels/flats/sandals that are comfortable enough so that you can walk around easily throughout the day without pain (it's really important that they be comfortable!).

After the interview

After the interview, thank the interviewer. Leave a good impression and ask about the next steps. You may need to wait up to 2 weeks before you know whether you have been selected for an interview. But if this is not the case and they do not contact you within that time frame, it's probably safe to assume that they are not interested in hiring you at this point.

You are dressed appropriately

While you should always aim to look your best, it's important to remember that the purpose of a job interview is to be noticed not necessarily by the hiring manager, but certainly by other people in the office. The way you dress will set expectations for how well others perceive you as a professional.

Your attire should reflect the type of role you're applying for and the culture of your future workplace. For example, if it's an office that values casual dress codes (e.g., jeans), then wearing a suit would be inappropriate. If it's an office where business casual is de rigueur (e.g., slacks or khakis with button-down shirts), then showing up in jeans would probably make an impression on them as well a bad one!

Conclusion

After all, it’s your job to impress. But in order to do that, you have to be the best version of yourself. So take these tips from the experts and get ready for your next interview with confidence!