Jobhop Jobhop's blog : Does What You Wear To A Job Interview Impact On Your Chances Of Getting Hired?
Did you know that 55% of your prospective employer’s first impression of you will be based upon how you look?
In other words, you should put as much effort into choosing the right clothes to wear to your job interview as you do to prepping for the questions you might be asked.
Choosing what to wear to your interview can be tricky, here Anna de Vere, Director of Corporate Training and Development at colour me beautiful gives you her top tips to help you dress for success.
I would always recommend that you start by looking at the company’s website. You should be able to get a good feel for the dress code of the office from this and you can mirror it in what you wear. Candidates who deliver an image of themselves that is in line with the business are more likely to be successful. If the dress code is business casual, it can be more difficult to know what to wear, take the lead from what the MD is wearing in his or her photo, failing that I would recommend a smart pair of trousers and a jacket for men and a tailored dress, or skirt and top, with heels for women. Colour has a massive impact on how you will be perceived in the work place. Get it wrong and you can end up looking tired and unapproachable; get it right and you will be seen as the energized team player that they’re looking for. The trick is knowing which colours compliment your personal colouring whilst also understanding the subliminal messages you send out when wearing them. Wearing black can help you to portray an air of authority, just be careful it doesn’t become the uniform colour you hide behind. Consider a navy or grey suit next time you buy one – these colours are much kinder and will not overpower you as an individual. If you want to appear logical and trustworthy a blue shirt can help you achieve this, something to consider if you are off to an interview at a bank perhaps? Wear purple and you’ll be showing your creative nature, so it’s ideal if you want to work in advertising or graphic design. Pink is the colour of empathy and femininity teamed with a dark coloured business suit you will help to soften your look and appear more approachable. Whilst red can help you to feel confident and in control you will need to be careful that you don’t come across as domineering; this colour is best avoided if you need to show that you are a team player.
Ultimately the colour and style of clothes you wear to the interview will depend on the industry, but you should always be groomed and smart. Always dress for the body you have not the one you want. Flatter your curves with soft fabric or streamline a straight body with crisper fabrics. Skirts or dresses that finish on the knee or just below are best and never expose your midriff. Men, remember the button up rule - sometimes the top, always the middle, never the bottom. Make sure that your socks are long enough so you don’t expose your calves when sitting down.
For more information on how to dress for an interview contact Anna de Vere, Director of Corporate Training and Development on +44(0) 7786 492 884. Alternatively visit www.cmbimage.co.uk or www.colourmebeautiful.co.uk
Having spent 15 years in L&D for one of the big cosmetic companies I joined colour me beautiful as Director of Corporate and Retail Training and Development four years ago. Everyday is different which is why I love it. One day I'm negotiating Personal Branding workshops for young City graduates or senior women executives who, having been promoted and no longer have to dress like their male counterparts, find it challenging to be themselves. The next day I'm booking 47 mini colour consultations to support a fantastic new product launch across the UK. I never know what the next project will be, but I do know that everyone we touch leaves us with a new-found confidence they never knew they had.
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pic credit Ted Murphy
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