A job interview is one of the most stressful moments in a man's life. However, one of the few things in your control is how you dress. This first visual impression will ultimately set the tone for the entire engagement that is about to happen. That's why it is essential that you dress right for your job interview and kick things off right from the beginning!
While preparing from a research perspective is a given, ready for those infamous questions about what you already know about your potential employer, the preparation stretches much further than this. Hopefully, the title has suggested what we are referring to, with today's post based all around how you can dress to impress to succeed in this situation.
Following on from the above, let's tap into some core advice that can help you from a fashion perspective the next time you are greeted with an interview.
Dress for the job
Applying for a manual job? There's every chance that you don't have to dress formally. Of course, you are probably not going to do yourself any harm if you do decide to, but you will not be expected to wear anything overly smart.
If you are instead applying for a high-end corporate position, this is when you really have to take your appearance seriously. This might be a three piece suit; the choice is yours.
Regardless of the role you are applying for, there are few occasions where you will be dressed "too smart". You can, however, be underdressed - so be aware of this.
Stay conservative with your tie
Again, unless you are applying for a manual role, you should aim to stay conservative with your tie. Classic colors tend to be the best in this regard; anything from burgundy to navy blue will suffice.
If you want to push the boat out a little bit you can also opt for patterns. However, the simpler the better - don't turn up for a corporate interview wearing cartoon characters donning your front.
You can always judge a man by his... shoes
Next on the list is your footwear. You might have heard the old saying about judging a man by his shoes, but it really can be true. A lot of people place significant emphasis on this, so don't fall into the trap of wearing the wrong pair.
Again, there really isn't anything like a wrong pair for manual roles, although again the smarter the better is the best advice we can give. For anything formal, make sure you avoid slip-ons. These are seen as quite a casual business style, and should be switched for Oxfords or shoes with round-toes.
Don't forget the finishing touches
Following on from all of the above, don't forget the finishing touches. On the topic of shoes, make sure they are well polished. In other areas, a creased shirt is asking for instant rejection, while if your hair (and this includes that of the facial variety) is a mess it suggests that you really haven't put much effort in for the big day.
Finally, if you’ve done all of the above, make sure that you round things off by doing your top button. As strange as it might seem, this can be a big pet peeve of some interviewers.
