Dressed for Success: Making a Great First Impression

By Lori Bumgarner

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Everyone knows that, when it comes to the job interview, first impressions are most important. Since the first thing employers learn about you in a face-to-face interview is how you look, your appearance and clothing set the tone for the first impression. Deciding what to wear to an interview can sometimes be just as stressful as the interview itself. In fact, some candidates are more worried about how they look than they are with their responses to possible questions. And then there are those candidates who don’t worry at all about what to wear, and it shows. These candidates are usually the ones who don’t make a good first impression due to their lack of concern for their appearance. This article will discuss what to wear and what not to wear to a job interview, while at the same time helping those worriers feel more prepared and less stressed about their appearance.

Guidelines for Men:
When it comes to dress, men have it a little easier than women since they don’t have as much room for error as women often do. A man can never go wrong with a dark suit in navy or charcoal gray (black is too formal for men), white shirt, and conservative tie. It’s the little things that men have to worry about in order to make a good first impression. For example, men should pay close attention to how the suit fits, how the shoes look, and how well groomed they are. The sleeves and pants should never be too long or too short. The shirt sleeve should be slightly longer than the suit sleeve by about a quarter of an inch. Shoes should be black and they should be shined and worn with long dark socks. When it comes to grooming, men should look professional from the neck up as well as from the neck down. Hair should not be scraggly and the face should have no five o’clock shadow. Men should avoid heavy aftershave or cologne, which can be overpowering. Finally, like women, men should have well-manicured hands. There should be no hangnails and no dirt under the nails.

Guidelines for Women:
Women tend to have a more difficult time deciding what to wear to an interview because of all the choices in women’s clothing (i.e., dresses, skirted suits, pantsuits, etc.) and because women’s clothing often tends to be more trendy. A woman should avoid trends and instead stick with classics when dressing for the job interview. Skirted suits in a dark, neutral color are preferred over dresses or pantsuits. Bright colors should be avoided, and women should wear black more often since it helps them exude a little more of the power that women tend to lack in their demeanor. Depending on the season, the suit should be a linen or wool/polyester blend. When it comes to accessories, women should wear small, understated pieces of jewelry and wear only one ring per hand. Long hair should be pulled back and neatly styled, and makeup should be natural looking. Finally, women should also avoid heavy perfume.

Guidelines for everyone:
Before the interview, determine what the office climate is like. Is it casual, business casual, or strictly business attire? Whatever the dress policy of the company, always go slightly dressier for your interview (it’s okay to ask what the typical dress code is for the company). In fact, it is often recommended that you dress for a position one step higher than the position for which you are applying. For all interviews, both men and women should always make sure their clothes are neat (pressed and free of lint or hanging threads), they are well-groomed, and they look professional.

Following the guidelines listed above, you should have no problems making a good first impression. If you look good, you will feel confident and your confidence will shine through in your responses to the interview questions.