INTERVIEW STYLE GUIDE
The first rule of dressing for interviews is:
YOU CANNOT GO WRONG BY BEING BORING AND CONVENTIONAL!
| Dress the part! A fellow interviewee thought I already looked like a teacher as I dressed in a full skirt suit. It makes you feel confident and it makes a good impression. Dress smartly but comfortably. One girl who had bought a brand new suit and 3 inch heels: her nerves got the better of her, and she twisted her ankle by teetering along, 5 minutes before the interview, so my advice definitely is FLAT SHOES! Interviewees for teaching posts |
Whatever the job, you want the interviewer to remember you for your personality and performance: not as "the one with the garish tie/short skirt/nose stud ....". Once you have the job, you can wear whatever the employer approves of. But you need to get the job first - so play safe! If you look really smart it will give a big boost to your confidence.
A study by the University of Texas and Sonoma State University found that levels of extroversion, self-esteem, and how religious you are can be judged from your physical appearance. (Vol 35, p 1661, Bulletin of Personality and Social Psychology)
A survey conducted by TheLadders.co.uk management careers company found for senior male and female executives conducting interviews. 37% had decided against hiring a candidate due to the way they were dressed. Traditional formal interview dress is the most likely to impress them whereas the biggest turnoffs involved casual dress.
| Good grooming accounted for more favourable hiring decisions than qualifications.
A managerial style for women: shorter, simpler hairstyles, hair away from face & lacking adornments, moderate facial cosmetics, tailored blouses & jackets, & simple gold jewelry, was favoured. A male wearing a blue jacket was seen as more competent & properly dressed than those wearing red or no jacket People wearing glasses were judged as more intelligent, hardworking, & successful, but also, not as active, outgoing, attractive, popular, & athletic. "The way you dress at work demonstrates your professionalism and enhances the image of the business"Waitrose |
36% felt co-ordination of colours and styles was an important indicator of the candidate’s personality whilst 75% wanted clothes appropriate for the circumstances. 33% considered whether the candidate’s style suited their organisation.
Orange was the worst colour to wear at interview (95%) of executives felt it unacceptable, with red 84% and pink 83% also thought inappropriate. Stains and dirty marks turned off 59% of executives.
“Stick to safe corporate colours navy, black. Wear a suit or dress and jacket. Keep heels elegant rather than teeteringly high. A skirt suit is more feminine than trousers. Keep make up soft, do not wear too much jewellery. Beware of showing too much flesh, cleavage or leg and of dressing too casually. Aim to be well groomed, elegant and professional, you will have more confidence and this will come across to the interviewer.”
Gabrielle Teare - Fashion Stylist
Where can I buy a suit for an interview?
Marks and Spencer's sell suits for about £60 which look smart. They have a machine washable range at around £110. They are good for both advice and assistance too! Next and Burtons are sell suits at around £110, Asda sell suits for about £40 minimum and Tesco sell smart suits for about £50. Matalan and Primark also sell very cheap suits. A very cheap suit may be a false economy as you may not be able to wear it many times before it goes out of shape.
Senior executives conducting interviews. |
Male candidates |
Female candidates |
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The basics for interview dress for men and women are:
Move your mouse over the figures to find out.
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Move your mouse over the figures above.
and what you should look like .....
Well perhaps a comb might help!
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Casual Dress
Occasionally, you will be asked to wear "smart casual dress" for an interview, workshop or other event. This is actually harder than being asked to wear formal business attire, as it's hard to know how casual to be! Ernst and Young give some excellent advice to candidates on what they view as "business casual" dress and you wouldn't go far wrong if you followed their advice, if asked to wear smart casual clothing for an event.
What is business casual dress?Everyone |
What is not business casual?
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Body Language
While you don't need to book an appointment in the beauty parlour the day before the interview, it is a good idea to:
- Have your hair cut and styled.
"His socks compelled one's attention without losing one's respect" Saki - Make sure your nails are trimmed and clean (for that first handshake ...)
- Avoid heavy perfume or aftershave
- Hide any piercings or tattoos.
- Keep make up light and unobtrusive (this is often seen as looking more businesslike than no make-up); don't overdo it.
- See also our body language quiz
- First Impressions Count http://ltss.beds.ac.uk/careers/first_impressions 20-minute on-line video by the University of Bedfordshire to help students with the first stages of interview preparation. Features 4 students getting ready for graduate job interviews. An image consultant offers advice on how to dress appropriately to create a good first impression also voice training, body language and confidence boosting exercises.
Unusual statements made at interview
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With thanks to Overlib