I Have NOTHING to Wear!

In my last blog, you must have noticed the Youtube clips from Step Brothers when Will Ferrell and John Reilly’s characters dress in tuxedos for their job interviews.  Seeing how the actors dressed in the movie is comical, but it poses a good question.  What should we wear to a job interview?  

Most people realize they shouldn’t wear a tuxedo to a job interview, but I’ve heard other embarrassing stories from professors and employers about what “kids your age are wearing these days.”  One professor told me she had a student that went to an interview for a summer internship, but didn’t get hired because she wore a T-shirt, ripped jeans, and flip-flops.  For many people this seems like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised.  After doing a little research I discovered there is a long list of unwritten rules for interview attire.  And yes, the following list came from actual people that showed up to an interview;

-Wearing dirty clothes

-Short shorts and leggings

- Turtlenecks

- Leather jackets

-Revealing clothes: men and women

-Hats

-Jeans

-T-shirts

-Evidence of what you did last night: concert bracelet, bar stamp, hickies  

-Baggy or skin-tight clothes: your outfits should fit properly

-Sandals, open-toed shoes, sneakers

-High heels over five inches

         

So, how are we supposed to dress?  For the most part, it really depends on the company.  If you have an interview for a job at an insurance company for example, you might want to dress more conservative.  Every person should have at least one business suit.  The suit color should either be black, blue, or gray. If you are not sure about what to wear, it doesn’t hurt to ask someone in the human resources department.  Don’t call the hiring manager! For more information on women’s business fashion follow the link here.  Men that are having trouble figuring out what to wear should click this link.   

Other considerations to prepare for an interview include:

-Taking a shower: especially no greasy hair or left over makeup from yesterday

-Don’t wear perfume or cologne.  Why?  Just because you like it doesn’t mean that the employer will.  Plus, someone might be allergic to the fragrance. 

-A fresh haircut can’t hurt

-Minimal jewelry (yes, men too)

-Avoid heavy makeup

-Make sure the outfit you are wearing fits properly

If you don’t have a business suit it’s a good idea to invest in one.  You don’t have to clear out your bank account to buy it.  Whenever I need an outfit, I head straight to the clearance section first.  If you shop around a little, you can find some great deals at stores like H & M, Macy’s, Forever 21 (yes they have men’s clothing too).  It also helps to know when a store is having a sale and gives out coupons through ads; check your Sunday newspaper or the store Web site. 
For more information and video tutorials, click here.