Dressing for Job Interviews: 7 things you are doing wrong

So you’ve passed your qualitative aptitude tests and you’ve been invited for an interview. Wait! Before you start cleaning that outfit you’ve been wearing for all your previous job interviews, finish reading this. You might just find what has been costing you your previous job opportunities.

It is no news that passing a job interview isn’t dependent only on your skills and qualifications. It is also dependent on the interviewer. You can have all the qualifications in the world! If your interviewer doesn’t like you, you can forget that job.

“Your first impression is the last impression”

You probably know this, but it is worth repeating. One of the first things your interviewer will notice about you is your dressing. Before you say jack, what you are putting on has already gone ahead to highlight your autobiography in the minds of your interviewers. As a job seeker, what you should try to accomplish with your outfit is to register an excellent first impression with your interviewer. Once you have secured that bag, a lot of things becomes easier.

This may seem like a no-brainer. As a matter of fact, we have found that quite a number of applicants usually overlook this. ”Isn’t just to done a good suit and fitting shoes”? “What could be difficult about wearing a nice shirt over a pair of pencil skirt”? Well, little may you know that you may not get that coveted call or mail because of what those clothes you wore to the interview.

You have been invited to a few interviews, nothing has been forthcoming from any. A lot of things could be the factor, but if you would follow some of the tips we will provide in this article, your dressing wouldn’t be one of those things hindering that big call.

Let’s get to it then. What are those things you might be doing wrong with your dressing?

Smell good, not Atrocious:

Yes, that’s right, your smell. There is a line between smelling good and just being outright ridiculous, and it is not even thin. That perfume your boyfriend or girlfriend got you that you feel smells amazing, your interviewer might just hate it. Unless the interview also doubles as party time, please go very light on perfumes and colognes. You don’t want your interviewer holding his breath for the short period you are in. Yes, there is a good chance you interview session will be really short. They will want to get rid of you ASAP and that is not a good sign. Certainly, it wouldn’t make sense to smell bad or reek of sweat during your interview, but hey, don’t drown yourself in half a bottle of perfume either. If you really must use a perfume, use one with a very mild, or almost unnoticeable scent.

Easy on the Bright colours:

A red suit. Or a yellow striped suit. To an interview. No no. Your outfit should speak to your interviewer, not shout. Bright colours shout. White, Black, and Grey keep you in the safe zone. If you are feeling a little adventurous, stay within the blues. Bright colours have a tendency to make things dramatic, and you don’t want to run the risk of appearing like a clown.

Stay within the Modern Trends

In a country where employers are constantly looking for fresh, young candidates, it will be unbecoming to attend an interview looking like a relic. Oversized shirts, oversized trousers/skirts, ill-fitted shoes. Nobody wants that any longer, to be honest. Appear smart and modern and let your interviewer know you belong in the current generation. Even if you have been out of the workforce for a while, there is no point in letting your clothes tell the story. Upgrade your wardrobe and invest in some fashion-forward clothes.

Being too Casual:

Some Job descriptions might give you quite the latitude on your choice of wear. But you shouldn’t take that opportunity to get really off the hook. By no means should you wear flip flops, palm slippers, tank tops, or armless clothing. Regardless of the job or interview situation, it speaks more to you more level of seriousness and attitude. In any case, a nice polo shirt or button-down is a great idea when you don’t have to wear a traditional suit and tie.

Make-up too much maybe?

Usually a sore spot for the ladies but it is always a crucial point to note. While it’s important to look your best, loading on makeup is not the best way to go about it. Keep your look natural, avoiding dark eye shadow, bright lipstick, or heavy foundation.

Tone down on the accessories.

Accessories should be reduced to be a bare minimum for both male and females applicants. It is an interview, not a runway. You are not there to bedazzle anyone with your fashion sense. For the ladies, excess jewelry such big earrings or large chain pendants should be avoided. Those things tend to draw attention to the wrong places.

Men usually don’t have big issues with accessories. But it is advisable to watch out for such things as cufflinks, tie clips, and belts. You don’t want to wear anything that will appear too extravagant and club-like.

Dressing too different from the company’s culture.

Preparing for a job interview involves learning about the company’s culture and dressing to fit that pattern. For example, if you are preparing for a bank job interview, you should already know the dominant color code of the bank you are applying for and dress accordingly. This gives your employers the inkling that you really want to join the team and you have at least put in efforts to indicate that.

In conclusion, the truth remains that tips about job interviews aren’t set in stone, and there is no hard and fast rule about it. A lot of factors come into play, so to help you, we bundle job interview guides with our job aptitude test past questions and answers. You will come across a wealth of information on how to prepare for a job interview, and it is up to you to decide which of them is suitable. We are extremely confident in the dressing tips we provided in this article and we don’t have any doubt that they will be of immense help for your job interview preparation.