When it comes to job interviews, first impressions definitely
last.
But looking good for job interviews can sometimes be more
difficult than one may expect.
According to Michelle Beaudry, assistant director of the Parker
Career Management Center, the right attire for a business situation
““ be it a job interview, a career fair or informal meetings
““ consists of a clean-cut, conservative look featuring darker
colors.
“You don’t want your appearance to be distracting to
those interviewing you,” she said.
Deciding what to wear to an interview can often be more
complicated for women, due to the wider range of clothing options
available.
Pant and skirt suits work best, Beaudry said, but wearing
dresses with jackets may not be appropriate for a business
scenario.
“Preferably, you want to wear black, blue or dark
gray,” she said. “A little bit of color is OK, but
noting too bright or eye-catching.”
Shoes are important to her, Beaudry said, as they are usually
the first thing she notices when an applicant walks through the
door.
“You don’t want to wear anything with really high
heels, not only because it could look off with your overall
presentation but also because you might be setting yourself up for
a spill when you are nervous,” she said.
Beaudry further advised that make-up should be kept to a minimum
and that all hairstyles should be limited to what interviewees
usually wear.
“If you do have the tendency to unconsciously play with
your hair, it’s a good idea to put it back,” she
added.
For men, a similar conservative look is advised.
John Catalina, director of sales for New York-based clothing
manufacturer Hickey Freeman, said the most versatile suit for male
graduates about to enter the work force is a double-button solid
color gray suit with a center vent ““ or slit ““ on the
back.
“This has been the most traditional and best-selling suit
over the past 50 years,” Catalina said in a presentation at
the UCLA Anderson School of Management on Thursday.
“The color gray also tends to be less authoritative than a
blue or a black and so more appropriate in interview
situations,” he added.
Shirts and suits with striped patterns tend to be very
fashionable today, Catalina said.
He maintained that it is important for young workers to keep
their wardrobes up to date.
“Double-breasted suit coats are not as popular any more
and can be seen as kind of stand-offish,” he said.
“They are not suggested.”
In addition, Catalina said the best way to build a good business
wardrobe is to partner up with one salesperson or tailor throughout
a career.
By going back to the same person for attire-related issues, a
relationship is developed by which the “wardrobe
consultant” acquires knowledge of a customer’s personal
tastes.
“When you start working long hours, you don’t want
to fuss around finding the right tie to match your suit,” he
said.
“This way you could call the store ahead of time and have
the salesperson you work with lay out clothes for you.”