Are The Clothes You Wear to An Interview Really T-H-A-T Important??

In this day and age of ours where informality has become the watchword of the day….YES!  They still are!

The clothing you wear is similar to the non-verbal cues you give off.  So, what do your clothes say about you?  First of all, they are supporting the image of you as a person and as a successful professional.  Furthermore, they are concrete evidence of the fact that you take the interview seriously AND that you're aware of the importance of appropriate attire to the company with whom you’re interviewing.

Wearing a yellow tie stained with tomato juice is a visible reminder to your future manager that you are a) lazy, b) sloppy and c) inconsiderate.  And guess who she's NOT going to hire?

Lest you should mistake the interview process for a kind of fashion bazaar, let’s set the record straight.  Wearing unusual, eye-catching or flashy attire is a definite no-no! It is tantamount to coming to the meeting with a neon sign over your head which says “Pick Me! Pick Me!  (And NO one… least of all managers, like to be told what to do!

IN other words tone it down.  You aren’t here to make a fashion statement, you’re here to get the position that’s being offered! 

If you stop to think about it, by dressing ‘nicely’ you’re actually paying a compliment to the hiring manager. Why?  Because the subtle message you send with your clothing is: “I care enough to dress for success.” And that message plays equally well in Peoria as it does in Palm Springs.

What if you dress up for the interview and the entire staff is sitting around the table wearing jeans and T shirts?  Oh well. So what?  At least they know that you’re capable of looking professional! (You can always dress ‘down’ later!)

The general rule: clean, well-pressed and neat is what’s expected.  No outrageous colors or jewelry, please. (Men: Do yourself a favor and leave the ear, nose and lip rings at home. It doesn’t serve any purpose to distinguish yourself as a collegiate when you’re looking for a professional position. Ditto for the ladies on tongue rings. Sorry, but most older management people are simply repulsed by that aberrant habit.

Lastly, you’ll want to avoid wearing any kind of perfumes or scents: your interlocutor may be allergic to any kind of odor and the last thing in the world you need to do is to drive him or her sniffling from the room!