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How to dress for a job Interview

job interview dress for interview

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What's the best outfit to wear to a job interview? Well, you always want to dress to make the best first impression but the outfit you choose depends on whether you're interviewing at a company with a formal dress code - a casual culture or for an informal - summer job or internship.

As if job interviews aren't stressful enough with trying to remember the right things to say and do you also have to think about what you're going to wear. Interviews are all about showing you in the best light possible and your interview outfit is part of that. Before choosing an interview outfit, research the company to determine how formal their workplace is, if you've checked the company website and social media pages, but still can't determine the dress code, try calling the company's HR department, explain that you have an upcoming interview and would like to know the appropriate dress code. It's also a good idea to consider the role in the industry, if you're interviewing for a corporate position in finance or law, for example, wear formal business attire, for men this means a matching suit and tie, for women it means a tailored dress pantsuit or skirt suit, however for less formal positions and workplaces business casual is almost always the best option. If you find out everyone is wearing a suit  - you should too.

Here are some definitions that might help you decide what you should wear in a business professional atmosphere, suits are the norm, women might wear a skirt or pantsuit with heels, while men may wear a blazer or suit jacket, button-down shirt, suit pants, a tie and dress shoes. Forget the suit when interviewing at a business casual company men might consider wearing a long sleeve dress shirt, khaki pants and a belt, and dress shoes. Women might consider wearing a conservative dress or a blouse, or sweater with a skirt or dress pants, and dress shoes or boots when interviewing at a casual office. It's still important to look polished and professional, men might opt to wear dress slacks or chinos, a button-down or polo shirt, a belt, and dress shoes, women might wear a collared shirt with pants or a pencil skirt, or a work dress.

After you find out which environment you'll be interviewing in, pay attention to the details, make sure you always look polished, don't show up in wrinkled stained ripped, or ill-fitting clothing, comb your hair and check to make sure none of this morning's spinach egg bites are still in your teeth, consider keeping a small grooming kit with you for any last-minute touch-ups you may need as for grooming, your hair should be neatly styled, nails clipped and clean, and makeup minimal and conservative, once you've showered shaved and applied deodorant, avoid the urge to bathe yourself in cologne or perfume. You want to be remembered for your skills, not your scent, don't make the mistake of choosing fashion over practicality when deciding what to wear to an interview.

When you feel good, you exude an air of confidence and ease, many people express themselves through accessories, but a job interview is not a style contest. When discussing your career with an interviewer, it's best to let your skills and work experience do the talking. You can't afford to let a wacky tie or clanging bracelets distract from your message.  When thinking about how to accessorize, select a simple conservative tie-in belt and keep jewelry including your watch understated and to a minimum, you should also make certain that whatever bag or briefcase you bring in is clean and in good condition, before you walk into the company's office, step into the restroom and check yourself in the mirror is your hair in order, buttons buttoned, tie straight, do you have any food stuck in your teeth, pop a mint or use breath freshener before your job interview. You're going to be doing a lot of talking and you want to be prepared as a professional. The outfit can make a strong impact on a hiring manager and solidify that first impression during a job interview, exhibit good posture and maintain a pleasant open expression on your face, look sharp, dress for success, and land the job that you want.

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