Jobless Corner

Hey, I came across this article this morning and thought I would share it with you as a follow up to my last post on Dressing for Success in an Interview.

The article was written by Alison Doyle, for About.com.  She is a job search expert with many years of experience in human resources, career development and job searching. Through out her experience, she is amazed at how candidates prepare for interviews. She speaks about candidates appearing for jobs wearing jeans, purple sweat suits, and spike heels or sneakers. Other applicants weren’t afraid to show pierced body parts and spiked hair.

Still others chewed gum or showed up in rumpled clothes or with their pants falling down. One recruiter even told a candidate with his trousers down below his hips, to “Pull your pants up.” According to the article, the outlandish dress costs some candidates the job.

According to a research, more than fifty percent of people’s perception of you is based on how you look and therefore your appearance is crucial to making a good impression. Pay particular attention to your shoes. Managers, especially those who have been in the military, can determine a lot by looking at your shoes.

So, will dressing properly get you the job? Of course not, but it will give you a competitive edge and a positive first impression. Throughout the entire job-seeking process employers use short-cuts, heuristics or rules of thumb to save time. With cover letters, it’s the opening paragraph and a quick scan of your qualifications. With resumes, it is a quick scan of your accomplishments. With the job interview, it’s how you’re dressed that sets the tone of the interview.

So how should one dress before going for an interview? Get the tips here…

1. Call the receptionist or secretary at the prospective employer’s office for tips on what employees there wear.
2. Consider the job’s location. If it’s a library in a strip mall, you can wear a sweater and slacks. At a corporate office, wear a conservative business suit. A pantsuit with a sweater or blouse is appropriate for an informal office.
3. Choose between closed-toe shoes, pumps and loafers. If you are wearing a skirt, nylons are a must.
4. Avoid miniskirts, tight sweaters, sloppy overalls and sandals with straps.
5. Check your outfit for holes, tears, stains, scuffs or wrinkles.
6. Tone down the use of make-up, hair spray, perfume and jewelry. A nose ring may cost you the job of your dreams.
7. Inspect your hair, nails, hems and the shine on your shoes.
8. Wear a silk scarf and carry a nice briefcase or portfolio. Leave the oversized, disorganized handbag at home.

Dress Your Best When Interviewing

Does it really make a difference how you dress for an interview? In many cases, it does. “I’ll never forget the gentleman I interviewed for an accounting position. He had been out of work for a few months and wanted to show me why.”

He took off his jacket, unbuttoned his shirt and started to pull down his pants (this is a true story) to show me the scar from a boat propeller that had injured him. He didn’t get the job. Neither did the young lady in a bright red skirt so short and tight that she could hardly sit down!

In the conservative business climate I worked in at the time, appearances did matter. In other environments it isn’t as important. However, it does make sense to dress your best for the interview, regardless of the dress code at the organization. If you’re in doubt about how to dress for an interview, it is best to err on the side of conservatism. It is much better to be overdressed than underdressed (or undressed).

According to Kim Zoller at Image Dynamics, 55% of another person’s perception of you is based on how you look. Her Dressing for Success information gives some tips on how to look your best, without necessarily spending a lot of money. Here’s a quick look at the basics:

Women’s Interview Attire

• Solid color, conservative suit
• Coordinated blouse
• Moderate shoes
• Limited jewelry
• Neat, professional hairstyle
• Tan or light hosiery
• Sparse make-up & perfume
• Manicured nails
• Portfolio or briefcase

Men’s Interview Attire

• Solid color, conservative suit
• White long sleeve shirt
• Conservative tie
• Dark socks, professional shoes
• Very limited jewelry
• Neat, professional hairstyle
• Go easy on the aftershave
• Neatly trimmed nails
• Portfolio or briefcase

Some important Tips:

• You have one chance to make a first impression; it’s better to dress too formally than to dress too casually.
• Trendy is fine, as long as you keep your style subtle. Clothes make a strong statement about you. What do you want to say?
• Even if you know that the company dress is casual, dress up for interviews anyway. It shows professionalism and respect, and more importantly, that you know how to dress for job interviews.
• Dress conservatively for interviews and avoid bright, flashy colors and patterns. Solid navy blue or medium to dark gray is usually best.
• Wear comfortable clothing that doesn’t need distracting “adjustments” when you sit or stand.
• Clean and press all of your interview clothing and polish your shoes (or have it professionally done).
• Keep jewelry to a minimum. Avoid jewelry that distractively jingles or swings when you move. If you ordinarily wear facial jewelry (e.g., in your nose, tongue or eyebrows), remove all of it before interviews. Leave the shell chokers and “gang-banger” neck chains at home.
• Practice good hygiene: Clean and trim your fingernails (or get a manicure), shower, brush your teeth, gargle with mouthwash, comb your hair, and do all that other hygiene stuff your parents taught you.
• Avoid wearing strong perfume or cologne. Fragrance is a matter of personal preference and your interviewer might dislike your choice. It’s best to have no odor at all!
• Empty your pockets of bulging and jingling items, such as a cigarette pack and coins.
• Carry your paperwork (resume copies, reference list, letters of recommendation, job-application information, etc.), a pen and notepad in a nice briefcase or portfolio, preferably one that is color coordinated with your conservative-colored clothing (such as a black or dark gray briefcase). This makes you look organized and professional.