We all heard the phrase “appearances can be deceiving.” Not for job interviews. You are judged by what you wear as much as what is on your resume. Many men tend to under think interview attire. While the general rules are pretty simple, they ought to be followed to increase your chances of being hired.
Job interviews are stressful. That’s why you want to select an outfit you have worn before to feel more comfortable. If you want to wear new clothes, wear them a few times around your home to get a “feel” for them. This is especially important with dress shoes, since new shoes can be uncomfortable and may take a while to “break into.” Once you have tried your outfit, inspect your clothes a few days before the interview to make sure they are neatly pressed and there are no stains or holes.
Whether to wear a suit depends on the type of employment you seek. Office jobs typically require wearing a suit to an interview. You want to wear a solid color, conservative suit (think gray or blue). Stay away from black, however, as it is too formal. A freshly dry-cleaned, solid white or light blue shirt (avoid deep colors), a solid or striped brown or blue tie (bright red and yellow can overwhelm the outfit), dark socks and a pair of polished brown or black dress shoes with a matching color belt should complete the outfit. If you don’t have a suit, do not despair. Wearing a solid blue jacket with gray trousers and the aforementioned shirt, tie, belt and shoe combinations should also work nicely.
If wearing a suit or a jacket is not an option, then the next “best” outfit is a pair of conservative trousers with a long sleeve dress shirt (striped or solid). I do not encourage wearing a tie without a jacket, as it looks incomplete. For a job interview, however, you may have to break this rule and put on a tie. A polo shirt with conservative trousers sends a mixed message since the “top” is inherently casual while the “bottom” is dressy and, thus, should be avoided especially when interviewing for office jobs. Last but not least, be sure that everything fits as well as it can and don’t forget to wear a professional hairstyle, limit your jewelry, go easy on the cologne/aftershave, and have neatly trimmed fingernails.
—Michael G. Snytkin, Esq.
President of The Style Consultants, Inc.
Managing Partner of Azam | Snytkin, P.A.
555 Winderley Place, Suite 300
Maitland, FL 32751
407-571-6926
msnytkin@azam-snytkin.com