What To Wear For A Job Interview(Male And Female)

First impression matters so much that we are address the way we dress.

Most applicants get confuse on what to
wear for a job interview

Don't let a fashion faux pas cost you a job.

Here's how to choose the winning outfit for an
interview


Stand out for the right reasons:

whatever you
do, don't wear a shiny suit to your job interview.
The substance of your interview is, of course,
key. Your patter, affability and subject
knowledge are essential, but arguably your
attire will also play a vital role in dictating the
final outcome. First impressions are, by
definition, instant and it takes seconds for a
complete stranger to formulate a positive or
negative opinion of you based on your
appearance alone.
Knowing what to wear to a job interview is an
age-old conundrum. Fashions come and
fashions go, but style remains, and, for both
formal and informal interviews, there are a few
hard and fast rules. There's no room for
experimentation in your interview wardrobe,
so here's a guide to make sure you choose the
winning outfit for the job you're applying for.



The formal interview

You should be aspiring to dress one notch
above what you would normally consider
suitable for work. And that of course means
the job that you're interviewing for. You could
hang around the car park at clocking off time
to get a clear indication of what people are
wearing, but as a general rule of thumb, for
both men and women, it's going to be a suit.
Suits never go out of fashion. There's always
some rock star or hell-raising actor sporting a
two (or three) piece on the front page
somewhere. A particular trend of the moment
appears to be, what I like to call the shiny suit.
These are made of a cloth that looks like it
could coat a frying pan and, while it's perfectly
acceptable for a wedding or a nightclub, it
should not be attempted for a job interview –
unless that interview happens to be for a boy
band.

Women
You have the choice of trousers or skirt. The
rule with a skirt is that the hemline should be
no more than one Biro length above the knee.
You can't go far wrong with black. Black is the
new black after all. Navy, brown and, in the
summer, a lighter plain color are also
perfectly fine.
Patterns should be avoided. Add a splash of
color with a scarf, but don't get too
adventurous with the shoes. Keep heels at a
sensible height. Shoes can be the female
equivalent of the shiny suit. Going for a plain
blouse or one with a simple stripe is the safest
option.

Men
Dark, sober colors are always good and cotton
wins over linen, even in the summer – linen
creases ridiculously easily. Shoes should be
brown or black – black with a black, grey or
blue suit, brown with a brown or blue suit.
Avoid mixing black and brown and always go
for leather, not suede.
Similarly, avoid garish patterns on ties that can
distract an interviewer. Ideally the tie will
complement the whole ensemble, so it should
be matched with the shirt as well as the suit.
It's always easiest to go with a plain, white
shirt and a non-patterned, single-coloured tie.
The same applies to your
socks and yes, the interviewer will notice.

Business casual
Some companies like to test your ability to
interpret fashion etiquette by setting a business
casual dress code. For both men and women,
casual trousers and blazers can be mixed and
matched, ties dispensed with and even shoes
can be less formal. But if it seems confusing,
just follow these rules:
No jeans. No trainers. No T-shirts. Business
casual – the clue's in the title.

In the final analysis, if you look great, you'll
feel great and if you feel great, there will be a
much higher chance of you storming your
interview. Whatever you decide to wear, I
would recommend that you start with a fairly
safe, uncomplicated canvas and add a splash,
but no more, of your own personality with a
well-chosen accessory.
If you get the chance to try on your outfit a
couple of days in advance, you will be able to
get any dry cleaning done and come up with a
contingency should something either not fit, or
have a rip or hole in it.
And my own personal bug bear – make sure
your shoes are polished.