How to dress for Job Interviews appropriately so that you can make a maximum impact?

Everyone knows the first impression you make on the interviewer counts at interviews and majorly it depends on how appropriately you dress for job interviews. It is one of the most important things you should take care to ace the interview.

Now how to dress for Job Interviews appropriately? Dressing sense is not a rocket science! Here are few tips on how to dress for Job Interviews professionally.

The appropriate dress for job interview depends on the industry in which you’ll be interviewed, as well as the geographic location and the time of year.

You should spend some time on the Internet researching the company, industry, and competitors to determine suitable interview outfits. If you are still not sure, call the company’s HR department and ask what they recommend you wear for the job interview.

Here are few tips both for men and women on dressing appropriately for job interviews. Millennial candidates have an instinct to dress casually for Job Interviews, mostly if they belong from software and IT industry. But till today the dress code remains the same and mostly it has been conservative as the good old days.

Going to interviews with proper attire helps you to look confident. This can be one more reason for you getting selected in interviews.

Another thing that you should keep in mind that you should dress for a level or two higher than the position you actually are applying for. And don’t forget to practice a session or two of mock interviews with that dress. Talk, sit and walk in that attire and make sure you are comfortable with that dress. Here are few tips to make an impact with your dress sense.

How should men dress for Job Interviews?

Here are few things that men should follow for dressing in job interviews:

1. Power Suit: Suit should be of solid colour – navy, black, or dark grey. Though in hot and humid conditions it is very uncomfortable to wear a suit. But if you can avail a cab and if the weather permits you should wear it to make an impact.
2. Long-sleeved shirt: The shirt colour should be of white shade or it should be coordinated with the suit colour. Make a point your shirt should be clean and nicely ironed.
3. Belt: Belt should be of leather and dark coloured complementing both the shirt and trouser colour.
4. Tie: The tie should be complementing your whole dress. It should not be too flashy or too light. You need to strike a balance.
5. Dark socks, conservative leather shoes: Shoes should be nicely polished and the socks should be comfortable, preferably of cotton.
6. Neat, professional hairstyle: Stop sporting funky hairstyles. When you go for the interview, your hair should be nicely combed and use gel. No spikes or anything funky.
7. Limit the aftershave: Don’t use loud aftershave or deodorant. Their odour should not be the first thing to appear when you enter in an interview room.
8. Neatly trimmed nails: Nails should be neatly trimmed.
9. Portfolio or briefcase: Carry a nice and simple portfolio or briefcase when you go for the interview. Preferably you should use a leather portfolio or briefcase.

How should women dress for Job Interviews?

Here are few things that women should follow for dressing in job interviews:

1. Suit: Women should wear suits of navy, black, or dark grey – and make sure the suit’s skirt is long enough so you can sit down comfortably. If you are wearing an ethnic dress make sure you wear a formal dress which is acceptable for interviews. In ethnic wear the suit is not needed.
2. Coordinated blouse: In formal western dress your blouse should be coordinated with the suit.
3. Conservative shoes: No high hills for interviews. Shoes should be formal and conservative and they should not show your toes even if you are wearing any ethnic formal dress.
4. Limited jewellery: It would be much better if you can shun the jewellery altogether. If not possible wear jewelleries which are acceptable in interviews and keep them at the bare minimum.
5. Professional hairstyle: Go for professional hairstyles in interviews. Keep it simple and nicely tied.
6. Light make-up and perfume: Be minimalistic in makeup and only use soft perfume.
7. Neatly manicured clean nails: Nails should be neatly manicured and clean.
8. Portfolio or briefcase: You should not carry any designer portfolio or briefcase in interviews. You should carry a simple, professional briefcase and portfolio.

Dressing professionally not only shows respect for yourself, but also to the interviewer, and the company. If you dress professionally, you are more likely to be taken seriously when you present yourself in this manner. This is how you should dress for Job Interviews.

Take the time to attend to these details appropriately to make a maximum impact in interviews.

Sayak

Sayak takes care of both recruitments and assessment projects of The HR Monks team. He loves helping people finding their dream job.

He started his journey in career leaving the shores of Waiting for Godot and found The HR Monks a better place, where he can change the lives of people by helping them achieve their dreams.

He has been to quite a fewer place across India and loves to travel. He loves two books, in particular, one Siddhartha by Herman Hesse and the other The Shift by Dr. Wayne Dyer.