Dressing for Interviews
For years we have been quite literally telling graduates how they should dress for interviews, there are certain basic principles to adhere to. Wear a suit to an interview (of course), ensure it is well cut, clean and teamed with a clean shirt and tie. Polish your shoes, cut your hair, shave any facial hair and look clean-cut and well polished. For the ladies, wear a suit, iron a shirt, tie your hair back and ensure you are free from distractions. In short, the ladies should “dress for business, not for fashion”.
And yet, time and time again – despite this message we see candidates will still march to the beat of their own drum and wear what they feel comfortable in. Which in essence, makes me think the advice we have given needs a new approach.
So I have been thinking about how in interviews, you are selling yourself. It is as though you are a product, or a brand if you like. You are representing this brand in a face to face environment. How you dress that brand demonstates how that brand would be positioned. If you are a “premium brand”, dress yourself in a premium manner. If your brand is casual and laid back, then your dress is likely to be the same.
Once you’re clear about the brand you’re representing, it is easy to establish what to wear for an interview. Typically, the safe option is to wear a business suit. The Managing Director doesn’t wear a suit? Well, he doesn’t have to. He has probably done his “hard yards” and has proven himself enough to run a business. The approach of visiting this individual without wearing a suit could be read as disrespectful…so be careful.
To play it safe I would strongly recommend that all graduate job seekers should wear a suit. You’ll quickly be told if it is too formal for their office environment. If that is the case, then at least you have the opportunity to turn it around for the second stage interview.
ProGrad regularly provide advice to job seekers at the graduate level and try to assist where possible with organsing interviews. On a weekly basis, we also provide a training session for graduates highlighting the importance of first impressions and how to be successful in graduate interviews. For more information, please contact ProGrad on 02 8235 8300.
