What Should I Wear For My Interview

Firstly, to go back to that preliminary answer I gave, what are you trying to say with your appearance? And when you consider that, think about every single item of clothing or apparel that you could wear. If you care about how you look at your interview, you are saying you have made the effort to show you really want the job. Think about the man in the perfect black suit, white shirt, sober dark tie, black shoes and then he’s wearing a pink Hello Kitty watch. No issue. That’s your choice but know that you will be judged for it. You had a choice to wear that or if you don’t have another watch, you can use the clock on your handphone but if you keep that watch on, just know it will be a point of comment. Actually, it’s better if you are asked about it. At least you have a chance to defend your choice but just imagine if you were marked down for it and you walked away, never knowing what went wrong? Having said that, it might be a deliberate choice of yours because your 5 year old daughter gave it to you for your birthday and it’s your most precious gift from your child, so wear it. No issue. Just know what you’re doing.

The same with women. How bright your lipstick is on interview day sends a message. Gentlemen – “bed hair” or looking like you just rolled out of bed might be fashionable late on Friday nights but if it’s going to cause your recruiter to take an invisible intake of breath, then perhaps a comb or brush through would be advisable. Nose rings, lip rings, eyebrow piercings, all the same. Know whether it’s absolutely critical that you leave that jewellery item stuck in or whether it’s ok to have it taken out just for the hour of the interview. It’s entirely your choice of course, but know that impressions will be formed as a result. The choices you make for your interview, even before you open your mouth to answer a question, will signal a lot to the recruiter and may likely count for as much as 60% of the evaluation. Look good, look “right” and that’s 60% positive for you but if you don’t look “right” then you are starting way, way behind so why do that to yourself.

“The choices you make for your interview... may likely count for as much as 60% of the evaluation.”

My vote is to tone down your look for the interview. You don’t want to appear boring necessarily, but you don’t want to be screaming loud either. That’s a very risky strategy.

Secondly, what is the seniority of the position that you are interviewing for? This is an interesting one because recruiters may give you more leeway because you’re young and junior and if you’re senior, you will be expected to be formal and have more gravitas. But maybe you will have more leeway as a potential senior, to show up without a tie. Honestly, it’s a tough one but whichever it is, ensure that you give it thought because whichever rank you are aiming for, you will be judged by your appearance.

Thirdly, what industry you are hoping to work with? If you’re interviewing with an investment bank, you should probably dress more formally because that industry is used to that level of formality. For men, suit and tie and for women, whatever is formal for your age and culture but note that a jacket never downgrades you so that’s always a good item of clothing to include. If you’re interviewing with an advertising agency or a software development firm, showing up in a suit will likely have the reverse effect because that is not their norm. It doesn’t mean you won’t get the job but their standards don’t mandate that you show up dressed like that.

Finally, it might be obvious but right now, I take nothing as ‘obvious’ so the issue is personal hygiene. As an adult, you will likely have brushed your teeth when you leave your house to go for your interview but did you shower? Did you bathe? In a number of cultures, bathing in the morning is not encouraged because it is believed that it is somehow ‘bad’ for you. If you aren’t going to bathe, at least make sure you don’t smell of stale sweat. Pouring perfume over yourself or using loads of body spray just makes it worse because the mixture of overwhelming smells could overpower and totally turn-off your recruiter (who is allergic to strong scents!). The best thing to be is just clean, and in clean clothes.

With all this in mind, what is clear is that whatever the industry or position you are trying for, frankly-speaking, you are always hoping to communicate that you are solid! That means you are dependable, reliable and trustworthy. Those are three separate and different traits, and they never go out of fashion. People can talk about creativity and innovation but I don’t know any CEO who will trade that for reliability and trustworthiness. Just imagine having the most innovative employee who is totally unreliable and wholly untrustworthy….no further comment is needed, is it?

In short, you are auditioning for a part and for that part, you have to get into character. Getting it wrong because you are the wrong fit is what it is, but getting it wrong because you never bothered to think through your appearance is just the worst kind of self-sabotage.