17 things you should never wear to a job interview

How to impress an employer?

How to please an employer at an interview?
How to present yourself? The appearance of the applicant when applying for a job should clearly signal that this person is the ideal candidate for the vacant position.

Before the interview, try to find out as much as possible about the company .

It is important to understand whether the company has a dress code and what age category most employees belong to.

What to wear to an interview? Much depends on whether the position involves communicating with clients and business partners. The more details you learn, the easier and more effective your self-presentation will be.

IMPORTANT! Basic rule: unconditional neatness . The suit should be clean and ironed, the shirt or blouse should be fresh and, if possible, new. Pulled threads, stains, shiny areas, fluff and hairs stuck to clothes are not allowed. Take care of a neat manicure.

Try to be relevant to the position you are applying for . The future secretary should not dress too expensively and flashily . An accountant or bank employee is subconsciously expected to be conservative and extremely accurate.

The manager should be dressed in a good, high-quality suit , and the image of an advertiser or creative director implies fantasy and a hint of fashion trends.

In the first type of company they dress casually

In order to make a good impression on potential employers, you don’t need to dress in business casual . In companies whose dress code includes informal clothing, employees perform creative work and are creative people. Therefore, it is best to dress simply, but with a twist.

Girls can dress like this:

Casual interview attire

Stylish look for an interview

Women 30-50 years old can put together something like this set:

Smart casual interview clothes

What should you wear to an interview?

What should you wear to an interview? Think through all the details of the outfit in advance.

Clothing, shoes and accessories must be in the same style, harmonious in color and appropriate for the season.

How should a man dress for an interview?

Men should wear a classic single-breasted suit in a sophisticated dark shade.

A black suit will not work ; it is better to choose a model in the color of graphite, marengo, wet asphalt, or dark chocolate .

Complete it with a light shirt and a simple tie in a discreet shade. The suit should not be too formal ; it is better to dress in a conservative casual style.

What should a woman wear to an interview? For women, suits include a jacket with trousers or a skirt . Avoid wearing skirts that are too long or too short. The ideal length is knee-length, slightly higher or lower.

Jackets with three-quarter sleeves look sleeker and more fashionable than regular ones. The suit can be replaced with a classic fitted or straight dress made of high-quality, not too thin material. The color scheme is restrained . Shades of khaki, olive, various beige, gray, blue and gray-lilac tones are suitable.

Clothing for an interview and its color

Winter clothes

What to wear to an interview in winter? How to dress? Clothing for a job interview in winter should exclude voluminous pullovers, cozy cardigans and other knitted clothing. In the cold season, instead of a regular shirt or blouse, you can wear a thin turtleneck made of wool or cotton, but you must wear a jacket or jacket on top.

IMPORTANT! It is better to leave hats, knitted scarves and other warm accessories in the wardrobe or simply take them off and put them in your bag.

Winter shoes should not be too bulky. High boots, boots with treads, ugg boots and other informal shoes should not .

What clothes should you not wear to an interview?

1. It is unacceptable to wear sportswear to an interview.
2. Tights, leggings, skinny jeans.
3. Transparent clothing will not add points to you when applying for a job, so we leave any transparent hints at the door.
4. Tight, tight clothes - dresses, skirts, trousers.
5. Overly decorated clothes and accessories.
6. Any type of open shoes - sandals, sandals, flip-flops.
7. Too low-cut blouses and dresses.
8. Too much jewelry. Cheap jewelry is also inappropriate.

That is, many outfit options may be appropriate, but you should always remember the laconicism, modesty and appropriateness of the chosen image.

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Summer look

Even if it's hot outside, dressing for a job interview should be business casual.

How to show yourself at an interview in the summer?

Open T-shirts and tops, shorts and capris, various sundresses, flip-flops and too open sandals are completely excluded.

The ideal option is a regular business suit, made from lightweight fabric : “cool wool,” a mixture of linen and silk or linen and viscose.

IMPORTANT! Men should not wear a light suit; today this is considered bad manners. It is better to choose models of steel gray, sea blue, or cool gray-beige.

Never wear a short-sleeve shirt to the office . If the company's dress code is relaxed, you can roll up your sleeves and wear a plain polo shirt without a tie instead of a classic shirt.

For women, a simple straight dress with short sleeves and knee length is suitable. You can wear a suit with trousers or a skirt, replacing the blouse with a simple sleeveless top. Choose light, complex shades: gray-beige, sand, bluish-gray, marsh.

Choosing a perfume

When choosing a scent for an interview, the main thing is moderation . The smell of eau de toilette or cologne should not be too intrusive . The ideal option is a perfume with notes of citrus, ozone, pine and moss.

Girls should not use bright floral or fruity perfumes, as well as heavy evening compositions. Avoid very concentrated perfume that is difficult to dose . Light eau de toilettes, colognes and perfume mist are suitable for an interview. It is important not to overdo it; one or two sprays applied to the skin are quite enough.

Be sure to use a deodorant that neutralizes sweat odor.

Choose unscented products to avoid unnecessary mixing of scents.

An alternative to eau de toilette can be a body cream with a light, pleasant scent.

Take care of fresh breath.

Before the interview, you can use chewing gum with a subtle fruity or mint flavor or a special mouth spray.

Choosing a hairstyle

Hairstyle for an interview is a great reason to update your haircut. There is no need to experiment with the form, just slightly refresh the familiar image. A man needs simple, neat haircuts without too creative elements .

Women with long hair should wear it in a top knot, braid, or simple low updo. Loose curls are inappropriate at work , too avant-garde options such as strands of different lengths, uneven bangs or high shaved heads.

When choosing your hair color, stick to natural shades . Bright strands, unusual colors, catchy highlights are suitable only for representatives of creative professions working in offices with an informal atmosphere. But even for them it is better to choose a more conservative option for an interview.

Don't forget about accuracy. To look presentable at an interview, your hair should be clean, shiny, without split ends or overgrown, undyed roots.

Hats are inappropriate for an interview ; scarves, bandanas, caps and straw hats are best reserved for a more informal occasion.

What should you pay attention to?

The employer will definitely note the correctly selected accessories.

Shoes should be discreet and perfectly polished.

For women , simple, fairly roomy bags , which can accommodate an A4 folder or a small laptop.

Choose bags made of smooth matte leather in classic colors: black, dark gray, brown, cognac.

Bags made of fabric, reptile skin, items decorated with catchy logos and voluminous fittings are not suitable.

How to present yourself correctly? Avoid jewelry and jewelry. At an interview, simple small earrings and a wedding ring are appropriate; other jewelry will be unnecessary. Men are better off sticking to discreet watches. Tie pins, signet rings or bracelets should not be worn.

Women need to pay attention to makeup. The ideal option is the effect of a well-groomed and natural face without too bright colors . Choose neutral taupe eyeshadow, fresh blush tones in pinkish tones, and warm beige-pink or reddish lipstick. Sparkling glosses, eyeliners in unusual colors, highlighters and other creative products are best left for the party.

Dress code is reversed

So whose side is the truth on? Of course, not all employers can be combed with the same brush and say with confidence that such and such a suit will appeal to such and such companies, and such and such - to others. The life of any job seeker would become much easier if the employer’s “clothing” preferences were specified in the personnel search advertisement. But HR departments and headhunters are in no hurry to provide the unemployed with such information; Therefore... English sociologists set out to find out their preferences.

They put an end to the dispute between “creative people” and adherents of the classic business dress code. Oddly enough, the truth turned out to be somewhere in the middle. As most employers told scientists (several hundred employers and job seekers were interviewed during the study), they do not expect candidates to have the perfect business suit. But they also don’t accept an overly creative look. At the same time, clothing - like the entire appearance in general - can become a decisive factor when choosing between several applicants, as 65% of recruiters openly admitted.

Unfortunately, the interviewed personnel officers did not explain exactly what an ideal applicant for a vacancy should look like. But they formulated a list of things that are almost guaranteed to ensure complete failure for the applicant. For women, these are, oddly enough, sweaters with a low neckline or simply too tight blouses; as well as black or any other contrasting underwear that shows through light-colored outerwear.

For men, high-waisted trousers and jeans, loudly colored ties and unironed shirts are prohibited.

One of the specialists from the company that conducted the study, Keiran Howe, commented on the results:

— Now the labor market is very saturated, competition is high and the selection of employees is extremely strict. Therefore, appearance and in particular clothing play a more important role than ever: the wrong wardrobe can ruin your chances of working before you even have time to open your mouth. Yes, someone may be looking for a pretty employee who will “pleasant the eye” with her cleavage; but you will never know in advance who exactly will conduct your interview.

Howe also drew attention to the fact that candidates' desire to stand out and "get into the soul" often results in the employer not taking them seriously.

“An interview is not a reason to dress up too openly or experiment with clothes,” the Daily Mail quotes Howe. And even an overly fashionable outfit is annoying (!), the scientist noted. According to him, 7 out of 10 employers surveyed expressed dissatisfaction with the desire of candidates to follow fashion.

How to sit properly during an interview?

Psychologists say that you can learn a lot about a stranger by the way you sit.

Try to take into account the rules of body language , this will help make a favorable impression on the employer.

How to sit properly during an interview?

You need to sit down after being invited by the person conducting the interview..

It is better to sit on a chair; sitting with dignity in an easy chair or on a sofa is quite difficult.

Don't fall apart, don't cross your legs . You shouldn’t carefully sit on the edge of a chair; this reveals a person who is timid and unsure of himself.

No need to put the bag on your lap . Place it on the floor, next to a chair. Do not fold your hands on your knees, and do not lean your elbows on the table. The best way to keep your hands busy is to open a notebook or planner and take notes during the interview. This behavior will demonstrate confidence and business qualities; an attentive employer will definitely note this.

Knowing how to dress appropriately for an interview will not only make a good impression on the employer, but will also help you feel more confident. Having chosen a successful image, use it after hiring. A suitable suit will help you stay in your chosen position, and subsequently get a promotion.

How to look right at an interview: expert advice, mistakes and examples from real people

How should I dress?

If you want to get a job in this field, you need to understand the dress code that applies in the industry.
Businesses related to money (banks, financial organizations) or reputation (lawyers) should inspire trust at first glance. Accordingly, you need to demonstrate professionalism and reliability from the first seconds of the interview. First: a suit and another suit! Plain or thin striped. A thin, medium-sized cage will also work. Blue, dark gray color. Black is also in style. Long sleeve cotton shirt. Color - white, blue or milky. Here's a versatile set of interview clothes.

A tie is required. At least until local HR tells you that for some reason, due to the company's corporate culture, it is not mandatory. Which is very rare in the banking or legal business.

Thin-soled shoes with laces, take brown ones - you can't go wrong. Although the dark blue ones are even cooler. In a pinch, black ones will also work. Leather folder or briefcase. Nice watch. It should be noted that this neutral set of things is suitable for the first interview. This is the case when it is better for clothes to “be silent” so that you can speak.

But when you get the job you want, you will most likely realize that your colleagues are fashionistas: they wear pocket squares with red polka dots in combination with happy socks with green stripes, periodically forgetting about a tie. But not all at once.

How does a professional recruiter see me?

The recruiter sees a male candidate from the banking and investment sector and already mentally builds a “show-off scale”: how much this alpha male will bend his fingers on a 10-point system. Of course, our task as recruitment specialists is to find someone like Harvey Specter (the hero of the series “Suits.” - Ed.), and not only in words, but also in deeds. After all, the main tasks of candidates in this industry are to calculate every move they make, or even ten moves at once. After all, they have a lot of other people’s money behind them. Therefore, we will ask many different questions to understand how well the picture matches the content.

It is also important for HR to be able to speak the same language with them, otherwise the recruiter will be confused with terminology and numbers and will not say anything of substance. In turn, the candidate needs to regulate the level of acceptable pathos and understand that the person sitting opposite is no less professional in another field, it’s just that this profession requires him to be modest.

So, what should I eat for breakfast before an interview?

— It’s important not to be late, and food is unimportant. Although, as a rule, the hungrier a person is, the more responsive his brain is, which means he will be able to give an accurate answer faster.

Have you ever failed at an interview?

— I don’t remember any major failures, but there was a time when I was more than 30 minutes late. However, this did not stop me from getting that job.