What Not To Do And Wear To A Job Interview

Finding what to wear to a job interview has become more and more difficult. Employers don’t expect you to dress all corporate since the workplace has become increasingly casual in most industries.

Few industries still expect their interviewees to dress corporate, but if your industry doesn’t, what then can you wear to get your dream job.

Here are points you should consider when choosing your job interviewing outfits (Followed by the ideal look you want to achieve.) 

Trendy vs. Classic
Your idea of trendy might not match the interviewer’s perspective on what’s fashionable, so you have to be careful with what you wear for your interview.

A classic interview suit or outfit appropriate for your career field or industry that will last for years is a better investment than the latest trendy attire that will only last a season

Your Social vs. Your Professional Presence
What you wear to hang out with your friends should not be worn when you go for a job interview. n fact, your professional presence may be very different from your personal presence, and that’s fine.

They don’t have to mesh – you can have a closet full of fun clothes and a wardrobe of work clothes.

Perfume and Cologne 
You have to be very careful with the perfume and cologne you wear for a job interview even if it smells good. Your interviewer can be allergic to some kinds of perfumes, so you should not bathe in your cologne when going for a job interview. 

Also, the scent is one of the strongest senses and your favourite perfume or cologne might be the same scent the interviewer’s ex-girlfriend or ex-husband wore.

That subliminal negative impact could squash your chances of getting a job offer. With any type of scent, less, or none, is better.

Tattoos and Piercings
Depending on where you are interviewing, you may want to consider covering your tattoos and taking out your rings. There are a lot of companies that have policies which limit both. 

What Not to Wear on a Job Interview

• Flip-flops or sneakers.
• Underwear (bras, bra straps, briefs, boxers, etc.) that is visible. Don’t wear any underwear that shows – even if your bra straps match your top.
• Shorts.
• Jeans.
• Skirts that are too short.
• Pants that are too low-rise or too tight.
• Blouses that are too low-cut or too short – don’t show your cleavage or your belly.
• More on underwear and low-rise pants – make sure the top of your thong, if you wear one, doesn’t show above your pants.
• Also take note of these points:
  
  Don’t wear shoes you wear twice a year
  You should wear shoes you’ve broken in so you can walk comfortably. You have to walk comfortably in order to project confidence, so make sure your footwear is properly broken in and that it won’t pinch your toes or rub a hole in your Achilles’. Even if you have to take a step down in fabulousness, it’s worth it for your overall carriage. 
• An oversized bag
  Women have this habit of carrying oversized bags everywhere, a bag filled with a water bottle, a makeup bag and a whole lot of other things they don’t need during an interview. An overstuffed bag could signal the fact that you aren’t able to edit out extraneous details.
  
  Leave the floppy tote at home for one day and carry a smart, structured satchel instead. If you need to bring a portfolio or binder, it’s perfectly OK to carry it separately under the other arm. 
• Flowy, bohemian fabrics
  Everyone (a lot of people) loves a trendsetter, but you should not be a trendsetter when going for an interview.
  
  Remember that hiring managers aren’t always as stylish as you are and may read your incredible vintage muumuu as “sloppy.” You want to convey the fact that you’re sharp and detail oriented, and sometimes that requires crisp cotton poplin.
  
  Anything too trendy
  Stay clear of anything too trendy. The company should not remember you for your outfit; instead, you should be remembered for your wealth of experience and killer ideas.
  
  What you should wear
  You should wear your version of professional. Every industry and every job have its own dress code, so use your best judgment. If a suit is necessary, try to infuse something fresh into it (say a patterned silk blouse).
  
  If the office is less formal, lose the blazer and try a statement plaid pant instead. The bottom line: You want to appear fresh and cutting edge but, more importantly, simple and sharp.