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Dress for Success: Get the Visual Impact Right At Interviews

Look The Part - Get The Job You Want

Dress for Success and Get the Visual Messages Right! This is all about looking right for the job you applied and the organization you applied to, plus being seen by the hiring manager as someone who will 'fit in'.

Confidence is a big part of it, even the best dressed person will not come across well if she is lacking in confidence and one of the biggest things to undermine you is suffering from acne...

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My next tip to 'Dress for Success' is to quit smoking - some organizations will not employ smokers. This is not subject to anti-discrimination laws. So click the link if you need Help To Quit Smoking

Your Interview

Your interview is coming up and you are feeling very confident. You’ve thought through your presentation statements and are ready to go. You have anticipated the questions they might ask you and have prepared some great answers. Remember that understanding Body Language also has an important part to play in your career or job change interview.

You know what you need to ask them. Clean copies of your CV or resume are sitting in your briefcase. Before you go any further, go back to read about Interview Questions and learn other interview techniques to advance your career, then you’d better ask yourself these questions and dress for success:

What should I wear?

Generally, it's a good idea to wear a suit for a job interview. Go with something simple, in a neutral tone. The more conservative your field is, then the more conservative your suit should be

For example, if you're applying for a job in an investment firm, go with a navy blue or dark grey suit; on the other hand if it’s with a marketing company something more trendy or colourful would be OK. Dress for success.

What if my interview is for a job in a casual setting?

It's always a good idea to match your interview clothing to the prospective job.

If you are applying for a job working on a warehouse floor, you will look out of place wearing a formal suit. Keeping that in mind, dress a little better than you would for a day at work and make sure your clothes are neat and clean.

My interview is for a job in a firm of accountants. This field is traditionally conservative, but this particular firm may be a little more casual. How should I dress for success with this firm?

You won’t go wrong in a suit, but if you want to give more of an impression of "fitting in" then you need to find out how people actually dress for work at that firm. One way to do this is to observe people arriving for work. Choose any day other than a Friday, which is when some companies have ‘dress-down’. Get hold of some of the in-house newsletters to see photos of how they like to look. Again, dress for success and follow the rule of dressing better for the interview than you would for a typical day at the office.

Do I have to buy a new suit?

No. As long as your suit is in good condition and not outdated, you don't have to buy a new one. If you do decide to purchase a new suit, buy the best one you can afford and make sure you don't get anything too trendy. Wear it a couple of times so you feel comfortable in it.

What shoes should I wear to dress for success?

In all instances, wear closed-toe shoes. Sandals are never appropriate for a job interview, unless you are applying for a job as a lifeguard. Black shoes match everything (yes, even your navy blue suit). Stick with a conservative style. Women should not wear very high heels.

Must I buy new shoes?

No. Shoes you've already worn are fine, unless they are in bad condition or completely out of style. Some shoe polish may be in order though. I suggest black shoes with dark blue, grey or black outfits.

What about my nails?

Your nails should be clean. A man's nails should be kept short and a woman's nails shouldn't be excessively long and should be bare or polished in a neutral colour. Bright colours can be too distracting

I love wearing jewellery. Can I wear it for the interview?

Modest jewellery is fine, but don't wear large earrings or a thick chain. To dress for success you probably better being understated rather than overblown.

What about makeup? How much is okay?

Don't paint on the makeup. Keep it simple and use neutral colours. Again dress for success can be better rather understated than overdone.

What about aftershave or perfume?

Your idea of a pleasant scent may leave the interviewer gasping for breath, so best kept to a minimum. They'll remember you long after you've left but for the wrong reasons.

What should I carry with me - a handbag, a briefcase, a rucksack?

A woman can carry a small to medium sized handbag. A man or woman can carry a briefcase if he or she wishes, or a folder or portfolio case. When you dress for success you always feel confident.

Dress for Success Tips for Men and Women

Even if you know that the company dress is casual, make an effort and dress up for the interview anyway. It shows professionalism and respect, and more importantly, that you know how to dress for job interviews.
Dress for success means dressing conservatively for interviews and avoiding bright, flashy colours and patterns. Navy blue or medium to dark grey is usually best.
Wear comfortable clothing that doesn't need distracting "adjustments" when you sit or stand.
Clean and press all of your interview clothing and polish your shoes
Keep jewelry to a minimum. Avoid jewellery that might jingle or swing when you move. If you ordinarily wear facial jewellery (e.g., in your nose, tongue or eyebrows), remove all of it before interviews. Leave the shell chokers and neck chains at home. We'll come back to earrings later.
Practice good hygiene when you dress for success: Clean and trim your fingernails (or get a manicure), shower, brush your teeth, gargle with mouthwash, comb your hair, in other words good personal hygiene.
Avoid wearing strong perfume or aftershave. Fragrance is a matter of personal preference and your interviewer might dislike your choice.
Empty your pockets of bulging items, such as a cigarettes and coins.
Carry your paperwork (CV or resume, application letter etc.), a pen and notepad in a nice briefcase or portfolio preferably one that is colour coordinated with your conservative-coloured clothing (such as a black or dark grey briefcase). This makes you look organized and professional.
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Dress for Success Tips for Women

Wearing a dress is probably not the best idea. You might get by if you wear a colour-coordinated jacket, pastel blouse, and long skirt or trousers. But you can't go wrong wearing a navy-blue or medium- grey business suit, with a plain white, long-sleeved, blouse.
If you wear tights (recommended), wear skin colour.
Wear low-heeled, conservative dress shoes that match your outfit.
Don't go without a belt if you're wearing a skirt or pants with belt loops. Wear a dress belt that matches your shoes (e.g., black with black).
Style your hair tastefully or have it professionally done. If it's long, wear it up or back, so you're not constantly flicking it out of the way.
Avoid bright or odd-coloured nail polish. Clear or no nail polish is best.
Apply makeup sparingly and avoid unusual or bright colours. Definitely don't apply sparkles to your hair or face.
If you wear earrings, wear small, conservative ones. Wear only one per ear in the traditional earlobe position.
It's better to carry a briefcase or portfolio into an interview than a handbag.
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Dress for Success Tips for Men

A jacket and colour-coordinated trousers with a pastel shirt might do. But a solid navy-blue or medium-to-dark grey business suit is best, as is a solid-white, long-sleeve dress shirt with a conservative silk tie. Silk makes a smaller, much nicer knot than most other fabrics. If you can't afford 100-percent silk, try a silk blend.
Wear calf-length dress socks (not novelty or bright coloured socks) that match the colour of your suit.
Wear low-heeled, conservative dress shoes that are colour coordinated with your suit. (For example, don't wear brown shoes with a navy-blue or grey suit. Wear black.) Some say that laced shoes are dressier than casuals, but that's a minor detail. The important thing is to wear conservative, colour-coordinated dress shoes.
Don't go without a belt if you're wearing trousers with belt loops. Wear a dress belt that matches your shoes (e.g., black with black).
Get a professional haircut or trim. If you can't stand the thought of cutting your long hair for interviews, at least tie it back in a ponytail. But if you're past a certain age then short, well-groomed hair is best.
Clean-shaven is the best way to go too. If you have a beard or moustache, shave it off for interviews. If you just can't bear to shave it off, at least make sure it's well-groomed.
If you ordinarily wear one or more earrings, please remove them before interviews.
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Get all this right and you can relax - you know you look the part and your visual impact will be just right. If you are concerned about weight loss and whether this affects your chances read How To Lose Fat and be sure to fit in with the 'look' of the new organisation.

Continue to read for more Dress Tips for Women

Carry on for more dress for success Tips for Men where you can download your own free copy of the 27 page e-book "SIX SIMPLE STEPS TO LOOKING GREAT"

Continue to Looking The Part and First Impressions and you could also visit my Interview Body Language Tips to complete the picture.

Return from Dress for Success to Your Career Change Home page

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