Dress for Success

So you’re just about to finish school and are now actively searching for a job. You’d probably have lined up a couple of interviews and thought that you can “get by” with what you already have in your wardrobe.

Now stop right there. Think again.

Dressing for an interview or work is quite different from your casual get-together with your pals. It's important to "look the part" as you get interviewed for the (first) job, and for successive positions as you advance in your career.

Why Appearance Matters

First impression counts – from the moment you step into the office, all eyes will be on you. Everyone you speak to, from the receptionist to the interviewer, will draw some opinion of you based on how you dress and carry yourself. You may be a bright talent but if your appearance is shoddy, chances are, your interviewer will not be impressed.

Remember, you are marketing a product - yourself - to a potential employer, and the first thing the employer sees when greeting you is your attire. Hence, you must make every effort to have the proper dress for the type of job you are seeking. Will dressing properly get you the job? Of course not, but it will give you a competitive edge and a positive first impression.

How then should you dress? Dressing conservatively is always the safest route, but you should also try and do a little investigating of your prospective employer so that what you wear to the interview makes you look as though you fit in with the organization. Different industries and professions have varying standards of what constitutes appropriate workplace attire. The trendy, eclectic and individualised look associated with an advertising agency or dot-com company would be highly inappropriate for a legal or accounting firm.

If you want to be doubly sure, you can simply call the Human Resources Department where you are interviewing and ask.

Attention to details is crucial, so here are some tips for you to consider:

For Men
- White long sleeve shirt
- Conservative tie
- Dark socks, professional shoes
- Minimise on your jewellery i.e. rings. If possible, remove your earrings
- Neat, professional hairstyle
- If you must have a moustache, make sure it is neat and trimmed
- Go easy on the aftershave or cologne
- Neatly trimmed nails
- Portfolio or briefcase

For Women
- Solid color, conservative suit; no dresses
- Coordinated blouse
- Shoes with conservative heels
- Tan or light hosiery
- No purses, small or large; carry a portfolio or briefcase instead
- Sparse make-up & perfume
- Neat, professional hairstyle
- Manicured nails
- No more than one ring on each hand
- One set of earrings only

Other Tips
- No visible body piercing (nose rings, eyebrow rings, etc.) beyond conservative ear piercings for women
- Maintain your set of well-brushed teeth and fresh breath
- Empty your pockets – ensure that there are no bulges or tinkling coins
- Strictly no body odour
- No gum, candy or cigarettes

Finally, check your attire in the rest room just before your interview for a final check of your appearance. Remember that for every interview, you only have one chance to make a good impression – Dress your best and good luck!

(This article was first published in JobsDB.com - link)