What you wear doesn’t merely express your personality and highlight your beauty. It can also play an essential role in your professional and financial life. After all, what you wear makes an impression on someone. Choosing the right outfit for a job interview can significantly influence whether you land that job.
Of course, you need to account for the culture of a business to some degree when putting together an outfit for a job interview. What you might choose to wear to an interview if you wish to become a CPA may not be the same as what you would wear for an interview at a hip young media startup.
That said, there are specific general fashion tips worth keeping in mind when preparing to interview for your dream job. They include the following:
Wear Neutral Colors
Colors can substantially impact a person’s mood and mindset, even if they don’t realize it. For example, blue is known to have a calming effect. On the other hand, red excites a person, but not necessarily always in a good way, depending on the circumstances.
Your goal is to avoid wearing any colors that can give someone the wrong vibes. To do this, play it safe and stick to neutral colors.
Avoid Patterns
Patterns can be fun in fashion! You already know this. However, incorporating patterns into your outfits is enjoyable partially because not everyone likes the same patterns. The types of patterns you choose to wear can thus speak volumes about your tastes and personality.
You need to understand that, again, the patterns that appeal to you may not appeal to someone with whom you’re interviewing. It’s advisable to avoid them when selecting garments for a job interview. Additionally, patterns can be somewhat distracting.
Bring a Spare Outfit
This is less a tip about what to wear and more a tip that can help you prevent a minor slip up from ruining your chances of getting a job. Imagine you’ve put together the perfect outfit for an interview. However, maybe on the way to your interview, someone accidentally spills food or a beverage on your outfit. Now it’s ruined. Guard against this by bringing a spare outfit with you. Naturally, it would help if you also got a bag or suitcase large enough to hold the outfit without making it too wrinkly.
Pick Clothes from the Past Two Years
It’s important to remember that fashion trends change, and you might constantly find yourself browsing Amazon for the right outfit. An outfit that may have been ideal for an interview ten years ago might not be suitable for an interview today. With that in mind, try to pick a reasonably current outfit. It’s helpful to choose professional garments that are no more than two years old. Keep in mind; older clothes are also more likely to look worn.
Once more, this doesn’t mean you should wear the same outfit to every interview. There’s no single outfit that’s universally right for all work settings. In general, though, you should never forget these tips.