Recently, I have been going on a lot of job interviews. As a recent grad without a lot of money to blow on brand new business attire, I find myself staring at my closet for hours the night before an interview trying to decide what to wear. Is this shirt too low? Is this skirt too high? Ask no more! Here are a few tips to ensure you do not wear the wrong thing to that big interview!
Steer clear of:
1. Short skirts. Whenever I have a question of “is this skirt too short?” I employ the fingertip method. For an interview, your skirt should be at least two and half inches longer than where your fingertips fall. The skirt should cover your thighs completely.
2. Large patterns. If you have to ask yourself, “is this too busy?”, it most likely is. Try to stick to classic navy, black or gray.
3. Over the top jewelry. You can accessorize to brighten up your business look, but keep it to a minimum. Stick to one set of earrings, one necklace, one bracelet, one ring… you get the idea. You do not want your potential employer to be distracted by your “bling”.
4. Sunglasses on your head. Sure, it was sunny on your walk over, but you are inside now. Lose the sunglasses. Make sure you remove all your “outdoor gear” before entering the lobby.
5. Ill-fitting clothing. It is often hard to find pants that fit your height, but it is also very noticeable when your pants are too long. Make sure you take the time to get ill-fitted garments altered. It is definitely worth the money.
6. Patterned tights or bare legs. A job interview is the place for nude tights. Solid tights are also an option as long as they match your overall outfit.
7. Shorts. You’re not at the beach, or outside enjoying a spring day so ditch the shorts for this occasion. Stick to either pants, skirt or a dress.
8. Flip flops/sandals. Again, you’re not at the beach, you’re in a professional setting. Hide your toes. Even if you just bought a pair of stellar dressy sandals, opt for a close toed option instead.
9. Jeans. Just… please no. Jeans emit a causal feel that should be left outside of the office. At least until you get the job and have casual Fridays.
10. Over the top formal wear. You do not want to show up to an interview looking like you just left a wedding, a prom, or a funeral. Try to scout out what your potential colleagues are wearing prior to the interview. Take your style cues from them. Do dress more conservative and smarter than them but try to stick within their realm of office wear.
Lovelies, do you have any DO NOT wear tips for interviewees?
guest
Next time I just won’t wear anything.
guest
Don’t overdo the make-up.
guest
I thought most of these were kind of common sense, but they’re still good things to keep in mind. Another one I hear often is to make sure that any makeup you’re wearing looks natural, not over the top. And a nice two-piece suit is always a good investment, especially if it’s something you can wear if you get hired. As a general rule of thumb, even if it seems boring to you, try to opt for the conservative side in everything that goes into your appearance.
guest
Don’t overdose perfume.
and absolutely agree on the flipflops.
guest
Are you sitting on a toilet in that picture?
cherry blossom / 47 posts
Yes. Yes I am. I was in a hotel that had a toilet phone.@Grtt@xanga -
guest
I think anything shorter than just above your knees would be inappropriate in a work setting.
guest
“Try to scout out what your potential colleagues are wearing prior to the interview.”
Yep. In my field, #9 is actually okay. During interviews, it’s pretty common to see women in dark trouser jeans or men in a dark, relaxed bootcut topped with a nice sweater or blazer. West coast
guest
I think it is also important to look at the expectations of interview wear for the job you are applying. I’m an accounting major, and for all the career fairs for my business school and all my interviews, I have to be in a conservative suit. Obviously, not all places are going to want you to be suited up, but you need to know this beforehand. I would assume the minimum would still be a nice blouse with your dress pants or dress skirt for any office-related job.
And remember: Always better to be overdressed than under dressed.
orchid / 191 posts
@Digital_Angel21@xanga - This is good advice. For both of my aviation jobs I wore my pilot uniform to the interview. It fit the job I was trying to land (pun intended), so I went with it.
guest
Good, common sense advice. Not much else to add except tone down the perfume and the nails as well. You’re trying to showcase YOU, not your clothing. Unless you’re doing something in the fashion industry.
guest
ahh, is this just for office jobs? because not every job requires these things. you should be more clear about what kind of job these guidelines are for, just sayin’.
guest
@Digital_Angel21@xanga - Agreed. I wouldn’t wear what I wore to my interview at my retail job to a potential lawyer interview. It’d be embarrassing to show up at an Aeropostale interview in a dress suit and vice versa.
guest
@lilblucherrygrl@xanga - We just had a lecture about interviews for internships in one of the organizations I belong to and the woman speaking told us that this one girl had over the top nails and she didn’t get matched with an internship.
sunflower / 393 posts
Don’t wear a low cut shirt, even if your interviewer is of the male persuasion. It not only sends the wrong message, it is highly inappropriate for a business setting. And if you get the job because you’ve worn aforementioned shirt, be prepared to be hit on by a slimy boss who probably only hired you because you’ve got a nice rack.
Source: Personal experience.
guest
COMMON. SENSE.
guest
This alllllll depends on the job you are applying for as well.
guest
I got a job while showing my bare legs, but I was wearing a nice dress so it wasn’t so bad.
guest
i agree with the cleavage thing but it’s really hard for me because I have D’s and even the shirt that is supposed to cover it doesn’t = (
guest
Good list. The only one I don’t totally agree with is no bare legs. I live in Florida and have done for 22 years. I might have been in two businesses in the past ten years where tights would be needed in an interview. No one wears them here. Context is everything.
guest
@IdealBeauty@xanga - Hahah! This!
guest
Some girl showed up with a white, long sleeve thermal top, and a black mini skirt that had both suspenders with straps that kept falling down and a slit in the back. It would have been a cute outfit for the club, if she had managed to get it washed. To me, it was a loud proclamation of not respecting the job opportunity or work environment.
guest
This is post funny to me, I have worked in the outdoor industry all of working life. When I had my (2nd) interview for my current marketing manager job, I was wearing flip flops jeans and a short sleeve shirt. Up unit this point have only had one job that required me to put on the monkey suit each day. I look at work like this, If I do not deal directly with the client. Wearing a shirt and tie will not improve my daily output, where jeans and conformable outfits will.
guest
Good tips. I find it the hardest to dress appropriately for positions in which you won’t be sitting in an office all day. Animals jobs, specifically, always seem difficult. You know you won’t be in any beauty pageants, so you feel way overdressed in a suit (especially when your interviewer is wearing jeans and a tshirt), but when you don’t own any slacks or khakis you also have a problem.