‘Dress to make an impression’, the phrase makes sense for every dressing but holds a lot more significance when it comes to graduates going in for an interview. It is important for a graduate to dress smart, as you want the people on the other side of the table to take you seriously and not consider you a kid just out of college.
While being fashionable and trendy is one thing, it is important to not let fashion take over the better part of you as the objective for an interview is the interviewer should remember you and not your attire. Smart and crisp fashion are the keywords to remember when it comes to interviewing fashion for graduates or anyone for that matter. While what you present as your achievements is one part of the interview, one needs to ensure that how you look and dress works in your favor by presenting you in the best possible light.
There are some checks that a graduate should bear in mind so as to not wrong with the interview dressing.
1.How to dress:
You have seen people wearing serious business suits when they go for business meetings, this should be your foundation when you start thinking of your interview attire. An interview is not the place or time to experiment with clothes, accessories or perfumes. Avoid stark and bold patterns, funky jewelry, contrasting colors and an overdose of your favorite perfume. Look neat and tidy. While every industry dressing demands are different interview basics remain the same. Being creative is okay but being formal is a must.
2.What to wear:
For the boys, it’s okay if you don’t want to wear a formal suit but a smart formal shirt with well-fitted trousers is a must. Jeans is a no whether it is for the boys or the girls. Accessorize with a smart belt and matching shoes and ensure you wear your formal socks and leave the funky ones in your wardrobe.
For the girls, formal skirts, button shirts, formal trousers are all great to go with for interviews. Be careful on the colors and be subtle. Another important point to remember is to completely avoid tight, ill fitted or too short dresses when going for an interview. Ensure your clothes are well ironed. Accessorize with comfortable formal shoes and keep the jewelry simple and minimal. Avoid wearing accessories that make a lot of sound as that can be very irritating and distracting at an interview.
3.Hair and Makeup:
For the men it is best to avoid goatees, stubble, long hair and beards. It is best to go with a clean look well shaved, short hair neatly gelled and combed. For the ladies, again hair should be neatly combed avoiding open hair. Women tend to fiddle with their hair and hence pulling them back into a ponytail is the best hairdo for an interview. Go easy with the makeup. You are just a graduate and young, stick to minimal makeup that makes your natural shine. The dark smoky eyes are not for an interview. Energetic eyes with a simple dash of kohl and eyeliner and well-defined lips with neutral or formal lip colors are the only makeup that you would need for an interview. However nervous you may be, get a good sleep previous night as you don’t want to carry puff eye bags with you at the interview.
What you wear at the interview will be interviewer’s first impression of you and your personality and hence take time and effort to get it right. Most importantly, wear your confidence and a bright smile which will be your biggest winner at the interview.