How to Dress for an Interview .

Once upon a time in history, almost everyone wore business suit to a job interview. Now the tide has changed.The old adage could never be true, you never get a second chance to make a first impression; a good one at that. Dressing appropriately for a job interview is half the battle of the interview itself, whether you look smart or sloppy determines to a large extent if you will get hired.  Surely, you need to look right to a stranger who is making an important evaluation of you in 30 seconds. Here are important tips when dressing for an interview

1. Check out the company culture- are you interviewing with a company where the employees wear suit everyday  or  t-shirts and jeans?.  Nothing too fancy or casual. Appropriateness is the most important factor on what to wear for a job interview. Wear clothes that you feel comfortable in, while at the same time matching the dress code of the company- this way you will give off great energy and your true personality shine through
2. Make sure your clothing is ironed and they fit, don’t wear oversized or undersized clothing
3. Accessorize wisely- flee flashy Jewelry *hehehehehehe*
4. Dress according to the season* don’t wear turtle neck tops when it’s all sunny*
5. Don’t wear perfume or aftershave – your employees might  be allergic or you can keep the to the barest minimum). Also try not to wear perfume on your right hand, yea you don’t wanna leave a smell when you shake your employee.
6.  Avoid cloths with busy prints.
7. For pants outfit make sure you wear a belt that matches the  colour of your  shoes
8. Women don’t overdo your make – up
9. Keep your hotness in check. Don’t let your clothes be a distraction. While a polished and professional outfit is no substitute for a killer resume, the right look can set you apart for the job and boost your confidence.

As started earlier, the company culture is one important factor that will determine your dress pattern. If you are applying for a technical position, you won’t need a suit. A collared shirt and khakis or slack would work. Same goes for women, sweater or blouse. If you are applying for finance, note that nothing is more precise and exact than managing money. Allow your clothing speak that language. If you are applying for a Government job don’t be too flashy ( gone are the days of white shirts for government workers). This is a time to show you are trustworthy, responsible and honest. A bit of colour is ok for your clothing. For a human resource job, you need to look professional and authoritative- you will need the look that you could handle any crisis and be dependable.

Other points to note are:

• Use leather belt with quiet , small belt buckles.
• Your tie should be long enough to reach your belt buckle, and don’t forget the all important dimple(the indentation under the knot)
• Run away from white socks. Let your socks match the colour of your suit.
• Button your suit when you enter the interview office, you may unbutton it when you sit down. Button it back when you stand up to leave. Always leave the buttom button unbuttoned.
• Don’t chew gum; its disrespectful.
• Make sure your nails are trimmed.

Congratulations, on getting the interview! Now you know what to wear so you get the job. Ta’da.