Dress for Success at the Job Interview

For Women  

The standard job interviewing attire for women is a conservative dark, navy or gray skirted wool blend suit. Job experts and employers seem split on the notion of pants suits, so a skirted suit is a safer choice.  Other conservative colors—such as beige or brown—are also acceptable. Red is a power color. A blazer with blouse and skirt is a possible second choice to a suit. You should always wear a jacket.  Skirt length should be a little below the knee and never shorter than above the knee—no night club attire here. Avoid wearing a dress (unless accented with a jacket). Blouses should be cotton or silk and should be white, or some other light color. Shoes should be lowheeled. Make-up should be minimal, with lipstick and nail polish conservative tones. Pantyhose should be flawless (no runs) and conservative in color. Do not have excessive cologne. You should opt for a briefcase rather than a purse.

For Men

The standard job interviewing attire for men is a conservative dark, navy or gray two-piece business suit (of natural fibers, such as wool, if possible), a white long-sleeved button-down dress shirt, a conservative silk tie (that matches the colors in your suit), and nicely polished dress shoes. If you do not own a suit, or the company is a bit more informal, then you should wear a conservative sports coat (no plaids or wild patterns and preferably a dark color), nicely pressed dress slacks, a white long-sleeved button-down shirt, a conservative silk tie, and nicely polished dress shoes. Your belt should always match your shoes. If you have a beard or mustache, your facial hair should be neatly trimmed. If you have any visible body parts pierced, most experts recommend removing all jewelry, including earrings. Do not have excessive body odor or cologne.

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Original article can be found at: http://www.quintcareers.com/dress_for_women.html and http://www.quintcareers.com/dress_for_men.html.

Reprinted with permission