question is never more important than the day of a job
interview. Yes, yes, it's your personality and skills that
really matter, but your appearance is often what your
interviewer will notice first—and it can go a long way in
showing her that you're ambitious, professional, and
most importantly, a great fit for the company.
Which means—there's no one-suit-fits-all approach for
what to wear. From your jacket to your shoes to even
your accessories, you'll want to consider the culture of
the place you're applying before you pick out your
ensemble.
So before you start shopping, check out our guide to four
common company types—and what to wear for each.
Corporate Classics
For companies that have a business or business casual
dress code, keep your look basic and conservative for
the first interview. (Stick to these guidelines for the second
and third interview, too, if it's a more formal
organization.)
"The rule still applies that you dress for the job you want
—not the job you have or are applying for,"
says etiquette expert Diane Gottsman (check out her Job
Interview Attire Quiz!). She recommends wearing a
conservative suit—a jacket with pants or a skirt—in dark
grey or navy, and carrying "a briefcase or purse, not
both." Finish the look off with basic black pumps and
simple, elegant jewelry.
Business Casual, Interview Style
"Depending on where you're interviewing, on second
interviews you may have an opportunity to dress down
to some degree," says Gottsman. Unless the company's
employees wear suits every day, you can skip the jacket
after the first interview (or wear a more casual one)—just
make sure you're still dressed a couple of notches above
everyone else. "Remember that this is still the first time
some of these people will see you," she adds.
Think what you'd normally wear to work, dressed up a
bit: Diane Davis, a New York-based web editor,
recommends a "dark skirt, crisp white blouse, statement
necklace, good bag, and polished boots or pumps as
weather-appropriate." A shift dress with a cardigan or
blazer would also work well.
Startup Style
If you're interviewing at a place where everyone comes
to work in jeans and flannels, you don't want to show up
in a black suit—it will signal that you won't fit in or don't
understand the company culture. (Think about it—they're
running a ping-pong-in-the-break-room-style start-up
to avoid being around all those suits all day.)
But that doesn't mean you should channel your inner
hipster, either. "It means wearing something you are
comfortable in, something that's work-appropriate, and
something that represents you," says Lauren Batty, a
startup recruiter at Connery Consulting, LLC. "If I were
interviewing in the startup world today, I'd wear a nice
pair of dark jeans, a simple shirt or sweater, ballet flats,
and a small bag with enough room for a note pad, pen,
and extra resumes.
A casual dress would be
appropriate as well."
The Interviewer Wears Prada
If you're gunning for a fashion-industry job, where the
employees look more like Gucci models than Gap-
outfitted cubicle dwellers, you're going to have to dress
the part. "Dressing too stuffy, boring or corporate will
immediately indicate you're not the right fit—before
anyone even sits down to interview you!" says style
expert Jennifer Chan. "To still look polished and
professional, pair one business-like piece (a pencil skirt,
a smart blazer, or sleek trouser pants) with something
more fun—a chic blouse and a great belt, for example."
She also recommends wearing one (but only one)
fabulous statement piece, like patent pumps, a collar
necklace, or a bold watch.
Above all,you want to target your
look to the job you're applying for
—just like you target your resume
and your
answers to
questions in
the interview. Having a
killer look
might not get you the job, but it'll make sure you stay in
the running. Good luck!
This job alert was brought to you by www.nigeriajobalerts.com
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