« Dress for Success / How to Dress for a Job Interview
What you wear to an interview is important because it is a factor you can control, unlike other factors such as who will interview you or what questions will be asked. So while your dressing would not get you the job, not dressing appropriately is one of the most common ways job seekers shoot themselves in the foot; it immediately signals to the interviewer that you did not prepare properly and damages your chances for the position. The key idea with dressing for an interview is to let your appearance be smart but understated; so that the interviewer's attention is on what you speak. Use these tips to get yourself ready for an interview:
The Suit
There are a lot of suits out there that will become dated faster than you can purchase them. You need to ignore temporary fashion, and find what looks best on you. Remember three things when choosing a suit: Fit, Style, and Fabric.
Your Suit's Fit
A majority of Indian men wear suits which are made to fit a hypothetical figure rather than for them. It is always a good investment to have anything bought off the shelf adjusted by a competent tailor. When inspecting your suit's fit, first ensure that your chest and shoulders fit in snugly - giving you ample freedom of movement with your arms and a few inches of room in the chest but not so tight as to form an X-shaped cross when buttoned. Next, check whether the jacket is long enough to cover your backside and does not extend past your hand's knuckles when your arms are held straight down. Ensure your sleeves show ½ inch of shirt cuff and that the jacket lapels lay flat on your chest. Finally there should be no bunching of fabric in the back near your neck, and your jacket collar should show approximately ¾ of an inch of your shirt's collar.
Your Suit's Style
Go with a classic cut such as the single breasted, notched lapel, two or three button jacket with a single or double back vent and regular flap pockets. Ensure you have at least as many cuff buttons as you have front jacket buttons (four buttons on the sleeve is normal) and make sure you have a left breast pocket. Avoid patch pockets, peak lapels, and slanted side pockets as all of these change the formality of the jacket and are best left to non-interview attire. Also pay close attention to the lapels. Thin lapels are are not to be worn by large men. As for trousers, either flat or pleated fronts are fine. Cuffed bottoms look best on tall men while shorter men are advised to wear their trousers uncuffed; either is perfectly acceptable for an interview.
Your Suit's Fabric
When selecting your suits fabric take into consideration its weave and colour. Try to go with natural fibers, preferably worsted wool. If you choose a blend, ensure the synthetic fiber make-up is 40% or less. Although a blend may keep the price down, it will normally not last as long and may be less breathable. As to colour choice, the safest selections are solids in navy blue, charcoal, and black. Although you can wear patterns such as pin stripes or colours such as taupe or brown, it will stand out.
The Shirt
Again, focus on fit, style, and fabric.
Your Shirt's Fit
The shirt's fit should be loose enough to allow a full range of movement but not so loose as to have excess fabric bunching up under the jacket. Your shirt should be long enough so that when you bend over, it does not untuck. You also want to be able to place two fingers in-between your neck and a buttoned collar - any more and it just looks too loose. Your cuffs should extend to the top of your hands, with approximately ½ inch of shirt cuff showing from under your jacket sleeve when your arms hang straight down. The cuff should not be too loose; you should have to unbutton it to remove it.
Your Shirt's Style
As for style, the collar type chosen should be based off of your facial structure. Men with long, thin faces look best in spread collars, while round faced men should look to even out their appearance with a point collar. Avoid button down collars in an interview, as they are the least formal. Normal barrel cuffs with one or two buttons are fine for interviews; avoid cufflinks unless you have the resume to back them up.
Your Shirt's Fabric
Your shirt’s fabric should be simple and non-flashy - white and blue solids are a staple and easy to find; those that desire more can transform these colors with a unique weave such as herringbone or oxford. Avoid colors such as lavender and pink and patterns such as checks, as they make an outfit less formal; stripes should only be worn if you understand how to match patterns.
Your Tie
Interview ties should be conservative and made from silk. Solid or simple patterns in red, blue, or gold are all acceptable - essentially any non-attention grabbing color and pattern. Striped ties are a fine choice and come in a wide range of colors.
Your Shoes and Socks
Your shoes are the foundation of your outfit. Anything well polished, dark, and not flasy will work for an interview. A plain or capped black oxford is always a safe choice; classic in nature, a quality pair will serve you well for years. Whichever shoes you choose, try to make sure they have round toes and closed lacing. You should not wear slip-ons and should avoid anything eccentric. Your socks should match your trousers and should not be of the thicker athletic variety. If seen, they should appear to flow seamlessly between the shoes and trouser cuff. No white socks.
Jewelry
A wedding ring is always acceptable in an interview but you are advised against wearing anything else on the fingers. As for watches, keep it simple, understated, and please turn off any sounds. Although jewelry such as earrings and piercings have become more accepted in society, these things are still considered out of the ordinary for many; you cannot wear something like this and not expect it to affect a person’s impression of you. Be yourself, but be aware of the consequences.
Grooming
Make sure your hair is washed and well-kempt. Your nails should be clean and cut, your face appropriately shaven. It's not a date, so avoid a strong cologne and be careful with the aftershave. Interviews are mostly held in small rooms and you do not want to overpower your interviewer.
Preparation
You do not need to have your clothes dry cleaned, but everything you wear must look and smell clean. Avoid smoking around your interview clothing. Shirts should be ironed, shoes polished, and have a suit steamed to remove wrinkles. Do all of this well in advance of the interview.
