When it comes to interviews and career fairs, first impressions are typically crucial to employers. Appropriate attire could be the one aspect separating one interviewee from another. According to theundercoverrecruiter.com, the key is to dress for the job or in some cases, a little more formal than the interviewee or daily work attire required for the job position. For instance, showing up for an interview at Kentucky Fried Chicken in sweatpants and a tee shirt might still be pushing it a bit.
UW-La Crosse junior Cody Hanson said, “For a job interview, you want to overdress. If you overdress for the interview, it gives you a good image. For my interview at Copps grocery store I wore cargo jeans and a nice button up shirt, and I got the job.”
Jobsearch.com offers multiple tips for dressing for both professional and business casual interviews.
At an interview for a professional job, men are encouraged to wear a solid colored suit and tie, long sleeve button up shirt, conservative shoes and dark matching socks that don’t stand out. Women can wear a suit with, perhaps, a coordinated blouse and shoes on the more conservative side, as well. Skirts and dresses should be kept at a knee length minimum. In general, women should not wear anything too revealing or too tight, especially for mobile and comfort purposes.
Both men and women alike should limit the aftershave and perfume along with jewelry. Multiple bangles, especially, can be very distracting.
Hairstyles, important but easily forgotten about, should be clean cut and neat. For women, straightening away or smoothing out natural tangles with a curling iron are some options.
“I usually try to put some gel in [my hair], try to style it and just try to make it look nice,” said Hanson.