Did you know you only have seven seconds to make a good first impression when you walk through the door at an interview? This short time frame can make or break your chances so don’t let an inappropriate interview outfit jeopardise your career. Learn to dress the part and find out what to wear (and not wear) to an interview!
How to decide on what to wear to an interview
Step 1: Get a hint on social media
[caption id="attachment_27278" align="aligncenter" width="650"] (Credit: Studio Republic / Unsplash)[/caption] Nowadays, many companies see the importance of having a social media presence. Use this to your advantage and pop by their Facebook, Instagram or even blog to get a glimpse of their office culture! Look for photos of the team on a regular office day and note their dress code. This will give you a good idea of what to wear to an interview at the company.Step 2: Take it up a notch
[caption id="attachment_27277" align="aligncenter" width="650"] (Credit: Vitaly Nikolenko / Unsplash)[/caption] If the employees you see in the photos are dressed in formal attire, you should follow suit (no pun intended). Otherwise, take it up a notch or two — if they’re wearing t-shirts and jeans, go in with a pressed shirt and business pants. By subtly bumping up the formality of your interview outfits, you’ll avoid looking under or overdressed. Most importantly, make sure the interview outfit you’ve selected matches the position and industry you’re interviewing for. This applies to small details like your accessories too. For example, avoid wearing socks with funky prints to an interview at a finance company.Step 3: Pick something comfortable
[caption id="attachment_27276" align="aligncenter" width="650"] (Credit: Tim Gouw / Unsplash)[/caption] Now that you have a general idea of what to wear to an interview, you need to make sure your interview outfit is comfortable to wear for the length of the interview. Avoid wearing brand new clothes or shoes — they may be uncomfortable and make you nervous or fidgety. Instead, go for something tried and tested. If you absolutely must wear something new, make sure the tags have been removed. For new shoes, give yourself at least a week prior to the big day to break into them. Otherwise, bring along a change of footwear to minimise discomfort.Step 4: Confidence is key
[caption id="attachment_27269" align="aligncenter" width="650"] (Credit: Amy Hirschi / Unsplash)[/caption] You can perfect your interview outfit to a tee, but your effort would have gone to waste if you don’t present yourself confidently. Make eye contact when interacting with your interviewer and don’t fidget. Show that you’re calm and in control of the situation by standing and sitting in an open position — keep your arms by your side and avoid folding them. Holding your hands together or crossing them can make you appear smaller and nervous. Most importantly, complement your professional interview outfit with a confident smile!Job interview outfit ideas
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What to wear to a formal interview
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What to wear to a semi-formal interview
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What to wear to a casual interview