The tired candidate on the left is a brilliant Information Technology professional. His manner and sloppy job appearance lets him down.
Fancy meeting this job candidate amongst other well dressed energetic candidates. Even if his credentials are impressive it appears that he is not ready to concentrate on the job at hand. He appears disinterested and weary. It makes you wonder whether he's ready for a hard days work!
This is an example of how your appearance and emotional state can affect how you are perceived by others and why job interview attire is so important to your overall image.
INTERVIEW ATTIRE
"Clothes don't make a man, but clothes have got many a man a good job." ~Herbert Harold Vreeland
Selecting proper interview attire can be the difference between 'almost there' and a job offer. If nothing else, wearing appropriate attire helps your confidence and that often reflects well during your interview.
But what is proper interview attire? Is it better to stand out or to fit in? Should you look to the latest fashion or stay conservative? Here are some tips to help you with your decision.
Tidy Clothing and a Neat Appearance
Attention to detail such as clean, ironed clothes, not too much after shave or perfume, fresh breath and clean shoes assist you to deliver an image of a well managedindividual.It will also help your confidence and self esteem to look and feel like the professional that you aspire to be.
Loud Choices
Gender specific problems such as the choice of tie for the guy are important too. Loud ties can deduct from your professional appearance. The ladies also need to ensure to avoid showing too much cleavage or leg, heavy makeup and too much jewelry.
Emotional State
Of course, your overall appearance is deeper than the clothes that you wear. Make sure that you are well rested before your interview and that you leave as much emotional baggage such as a fight with your partner or money problems behind. You want every aspect of your appearance to focus on the job at hand and to reinforce your verbal communication throughout the interview.
Note the Weather
The weather also plays a role in your choice of interview attire. I find it a great deal easier dressing for interviews on a dry winter’s day. Hot summer days and rainy days can cause logistical problems. In Brisbane, Australia for example, I find that you can’t wear a suit jacket on your way to the interview in the middle of summer. It's far too hot, even if your mode of transport is an air conditioned vehicle.
Who would you employ?
Plan your Trip, hot or wet weather can ruin your clothes
Take care that your transportation is in order before the interview and that your transportation caters for your local weather conditions without ruining your outfit. If you are using public transport, make sure that you have a current copy of timetables and schedules. Always allow for a little extra time for unforseen delays.
Also, plan ahead and use your local knowledge to cater for the varying weather conditions. For example, don't plan a trip that involves walking long distances on a hot summers day. It seems trivial but it’s the attention to detail that will help you to deliver the complete package as well as giving you a possible advantage over the other candidates. Imagine - Of three or four candidates, perhaps one or two may be caught out by our aforementioned traps. On first impression one would imagine that the candidates with the fresh appearance would score higher
Make an impression
Just like poor presentation can lead to a bad impression. Excellent presentation can have the opposite effect. Use this knowledge to your advantage and ensure that you present your attire in a clean, tidy professional manner. It will not only help you to look the part, but also to feel the part.
Worried about being Overdressed?
Even if the workplace has a casual dress code, its advisable to dress professionally for the big day unless otherwise advised. As a general rule of thumb It's better to be overdressed than underdressed. Wearing formal attire speaks volumes for your good professional attitude.
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