Whether we like it or not, your appearance, will be judged as a yardstick of what you will bring to the workplace. Neatness and smartness of attire goes a long way in creating that vital first impression, which helps to smooth the remaining part of your interview.
Of course this does not mean that all interviews are beauty parades. All it means is that what you wear and how you wear it will be seen as yardsticks to gauge your standing, self-assurance, self-respect and sense of worth
There are no standard norms or specific answers to the question, what is the best attire for an interview? That is because, each interviewer has his own distinctive taste and what he likes may not necessarily match with your choice. However, there are a few things that you can keep in mind.
Better To Be Overdressed Than Underdressed
Always wear clothes that are one or two levels higher than the job, you are looking for. Suppose you are going to look for the job of a mechanic, you won’t wear overall and go there. You have to show the company respect and wear, if not a suit, at least a shirt, clean pants and leather shoes. There is no need to stress the importance of being well groomed. By dressing two notches above what's customary clothing for the position you're interviewing for you are showing that you care about the job
Better To Be Safe Than Sorry
Dressing up appropriately for the interview does not mean that you are trying to get the job, through your attire. It’s more a question of ensuring that you are not out of the race, because you were inappropriately dressed. Interviewers take a long time in deciding, whether you are right for the job, but it takes them a mere 10 seconds to decide that you are not the one that they are looking for. The chances are that by dressing formally, you may not be hired, but most certainly not dressing appropriately will not be the reason, why you weren’t.
It Is An Employer’s Market, You Don’t Really Matter
Way back in the 1999, when there was a huge worker shortage, job applicants, in response to ads, would stroll into perfunctory interviews with nose rings, sandals and shorts and still get employed. Those days are like a dream for the employees. These are desperate times. It’s an employer oriented market and they are not anxiously waiting for you to come and hire you. If you are going to dress like, most youngsters do these days, just remember, these days the interviewers are unforgiving, uncaring and unmoved.
Sometimes It Pays Not To Follow The Crowd
A vast majority of the people go to the interviews in a suit. It is the standard and accepted practice and perhaps also the safest. There’s nothing like well fitting navy or gray suits that convey a feeling of seriousness and professionalism.
But is a suit an absolute must? Certainly not. I know of an acquaintance, who substituted his suit, with black slacks and a pullover, because of the biting cold. The interviewer actually appreciated that and told him that it was nice to see something other than a suit walk through his door. He also got the job.
Hire Me For Who I Am
There are those who say that it is highly hypocritical to pretend who you are not and that they’d much rather prefer to be hired for who they are. They feel that wearing a suit, when they are more comfortable in jeans and a tee shirt is misrepresenting oneself and its two-faced and duplicitous.
All we can say is by all means wear what you want, go ahead and show off that tattoo or your pierced navel. But by doing so you are telling the interviewer you are unaware of the rules of the game and are unwilling to play by them. You may be more skillful than the other candidates, but on the basis of their attitude, approach and attire, they get the job and you don’t.
