Critical Impressions
Impressions formed during the first two to six minutes of the interview are seldom changed during the remaining 30 to 60 minutes of the interview. The maxim "you never get a second chance to make a good first impression" is one worth repeating.
Many people still believe the best qualified person always gets the job. But we act and react to situations based on our perceptions of reality and thus our perceptions become our reality. The same is true with interviewers. The most qualified individual is the one who convinces the interviewer that he or she -- and not others -- is the best qualified.
Individuals invited to an interview have already been screened for basic job qualifications. Thus each interviewee is likely to possess the educational and work experience considered necessary for the job. At this point the person who gets the job is the one who impresses the interviewer as being the best for the job. And it is in those critical first few minutes where impressions count the most.
The most qualified individual convinces the interviewer he/she is the most qualified.
Win Points with a Positive Image
Appearance is the first thing you communicate to others. Before you have a chance to speak, others notice how you dress and accordingly draw conclusions about your personality and competence. Indeed, research shows that appearance makes the greatest difference when an evaluator has little information about the other person. This is precisely the situation you find yourself in at the start of the interview.
Many people object to having their capabilities evaluated on the basis of their appearance and manner of dress. "But that is not fair," they argue. "People should be hired on the basis of their ability to do the job -- not on how they look." But debating the lack of merit or complaining about the unfairness of such behavior does not alter reality. Like it or not, people do make initial judgments about others based on their appearance. Since you cannot alter this fact and bemoaning it will get you nowhere, it is best to learn to use it to your advantage. If you learn to effectively manage your image, you can convey marvelous messages regarding your authority, credibility, and competence.
Some estimates indicate that as much as 65 percent of the hiring decision may be based on the nonverbal aspects of the interview. Employers sometimes refer to this phenomenon with such terms as "chemistry," "body warmth," or that "gut feeling" the individual is right for the job. This correlates with findings of communication studies that approximately 65 percent of a message is communicated nonverbally. The remaining 35 percent is communicated verbally.
Rules of the Game
Knowing how to dress appropriately for the interview requires knowing important rules of the game. Like it or not, employers play by these rules. Once you know the rules, you at least can make a conscious choice whether or not you want to play. If you decide to play, you will stand a better chance of winning by using the often unwritten rules to your advantage.
Much has been written on how to dress professionally, especially since John Molloy first wrote his books on dress for success. While this approach has been criticized for promoting a "cookie cutter" or "carbon copy" image, it is still valid for most interview situations. The degree to which employers adhere to these expectations, however, will depend on particular individuals and situations.
Your job is to know when, where, and to what extent the rules apply to you. When in doubt, follow our general advice on looking professional.
When we suggest you should know the rules and decide whether you wish to play by these rules, we do not intend to imply that incompetent people get jobs simply by dressing the part. Rather, we contend that qualified and competent job applicants can gain an extra edge over a field of other qualified, competent individuals by dressing to convey positive professional images.
Winning the Game
Much of the general advice on how to dress for success is sound. However, there is a major shortcoming in much of the advice you encounter. Researchers on the subject have looked at how people in positions of power view certain colors for professional attire. Few have gone beyond this to note that colors do different things on different people. Various shades or clarities of a color or combinations of contrast between light and dark colors when worn together may be un-enhancing to some individuals and actually diminish that person's "power look".
For example, the combination of a white shirt or blouse paired with a navy suit -- one of the success and power looks promoted by many -- will be enhancing both to the appearance and the image of power on some individuals, but will be un-enhancing and actually overpower the appearance of others. Or suppose you take the advice that a medium to charcoal gray suit is a good color in the professional world. It is, but the advice to wear medium to charcoal gray only recognizes differences of light to dark. In that medium to charcoal range we could pick scores of shades of gray from very blue grays to taupe grays. The wrong gray shade on individuals can make them look less attractive, unhealthy, and even older than their age. Who wants to hire someone who appears to be in poor health? If we combine the results of research done by John Molloy for his Dress for Success and The Woman's Dress for Success Book on how colors relate to one's power look and that done by Joanne Nicholson and Judy Lewis-Crum explained in their book Color Wonderful on how colors relate to us as unique individuals, we can achieve a win-win situation. You can retain your individuality and look your most enhanced while, at the same time, achieving a look of success, power and competence.
Your Winning Appearance
The key to effective dressing is to know how to relate the clothing you put on your body to your own natural coloring. Both men and women can benefit from knowing how to make color work with --rather than against-- their natural coloring. Let us pose a few questions to help you start thinking about color in what may be some new ways. Ask yourself these questions:
- Can you wear black and white together and look good, or does that much contrast wear you?
- Can you wear navy and white together and retain your "power look" or does that much contrast actually diminish your look of power and authority?
- Can you wear a pure white or is a slightly cream toned white more flattering?
- Do you look better in clear or toned down shades of colors?
- Do you look better in a blued gray, a taupe gray, or a shade in between?
- Do you look better in a gold toned beige/camel, a cream toned beige/camel or a pink toned beige/camel color?
Into which category does your coloring fit? Let's find out where you belong in terms of color type:
Identifying your Color Type
- Contrast coloring: If you are a contrast color type, you have a definite dark-light appearance. You have very dark brown or black hair and light to medium ivory o. Black men and women in this category will have clear light to dark skin tones and dark hair.
- Light-Bright coloring: If you are of this color type, you have golden tones in your skin and golden tones in your blond or light to medium brown hair. Most of you had blond or light brown hair as children. Black men and women in this category will have clear golden skin on their face and dark hair.
- Muted coloring; If you are a muted color type, you have a definite brown-on-brown or red-on-brown appearance. Your skin tone is an ivory-beige, brown-beige, or golden-beige tone -- that is, you have a beige skin with a golden-brown cast. Your hair could be red or light to dark brown with camel, bronze, or red highlights. Black men and women in this category will have golden or brown skin tones and dark hair.
- Gentle coloring: If you are of this color type, you have a soft, gentle looking appearance. Your skin tone is a light ivory or pink-beige tone and your hair is ash blond or ash brown. You probably had blond or ash brown hair as a child. Black men and women in this category will have pink tones in their skin and dark hair.
These color types will be referred to in the next two sections when guidelines are given for effectively combining shirts, suits, and ties for men, and skirted suits, blouses, and accessories for women to both enhance and maximize each individual's professional look. However, if you are uncertain which hair or skin tone is yours and are hence undecided as to which color type category you belong to, you may wish to contact Color 1 Associates, Inc. by calling their toll free number: 1-800-523-8496. They can refer you to the Color 1 consultant nearest you.
Color 1 provides you with an individualized color chart that allows you to wear every color in the spectrum, but in your best shade and clarity as well as written material telling you how you can combine your colors for the best amounts of contrast for your natural coloring (color type).
A good color chart is an excellent one-time investment considering the costs of buying the wrong shade in a suit, shirt, or blouse. It will more than pay for itself if it contributes to an effective interview as you wear your suit in your best shade and put your clothing together to work with, rather than against, your natural coloring. It can help you convey positive images during those crucial initial minutes of the interview - as well as over a life-time.
Male Images of Success
John Molloy has conducted extensive research on how individuals can dress effectively. Aimed at individuals already working in professional positions who want to communicate a success image to further advancement, his advice is just as relevant for someone interviewing for a job.
Except for some blue collar jobs, basic attire for men interviewing for a position is a suit. Let us look at appropriate suits in terms of color, fabric, and style. The suit color can make a difference in creating an image of authority and competence. In general, blue, gray, camel or beige are proper colors for men's suits. Usually the darker the shade, the greater amount of authority it conveys to the wearer. Given your situation (the interview) and your audience (the interviewer), you should aim at conveying enough authority to command attention and a positive regard, but not so much as to threaten the interviewer. Hence, the medium to charcoal gray or navy blue would be good suit colors. Black, a basic funeral or formal attire color, can threaten the interviewer by conveying too much authority.
When selecting your gray, navy, camel, or beige suit, choose a shade that is enhancing to you. Should you wear a blue-gray, a taupe-gray, or a shade in-between? Do you look better in a somewhat bright navy or a more toned-down navy; a blue navy or a black navy; a navy with a purple or a yellow base to it? In general, most people will look better in somewhat blue grays than in grays that are closer to the taupe side of the spectrum. Most people will be enhanced by a navy that is not too bright or contain so much black that it is difficult to distinguish whether the color is navy or black. When selecting beige or a camel, select a tone that complements your skin color. If your skin has pink tones, avoid beiges and camels that contain gold hues and select pink based beiges/camels that enhance your skin color. Similarly, those of you who have gold/olive tones to your skin should avoid the pink based camels and beiges. If you are going to spend a lot of money on a suit - and if you buy a good, well-made suit you are going to spend a lot of money - buy a suit that will work for you.
Your suit(s) should be made of a natural fiber. A good blend of a natural fiber with some synthetic is acceptable as long as it has the "look" of the natural fiber. The very best suit fabrics are wool, wool blends, or fabrics that look like them. Even for the warmer summer months, men can find summer weight wool suits that are comfort able and look marvelous. They are your best buy. For really hot climates, a good silk (often blended with other materials) sport jacket is an acceptable choice when you choose not to wear a suit.
A carefully chosen sport jacket is appropriate for many interview situations. Know however, that it conveys less authority than a suit.
There may be times when you purposefully select this slightly less professional -- yet acceptable -- look. Know your audience and make your decision accordingly. Avoid 100 percent polyester materials, or anything that looks like it -- especially double-knits -- like the plague! It is a definite negative for your look of competence, power, and success.
The style of your suit should be classic. It should be well-tailored and well-styled. Avoid suits that appear "trendy" unless you are applying for a job in a field such as arts or some areas in advertising. A conservative suit that has a timeless classic styling will serve you best not only for the interview, but it will give you several years wear once you land the job.
Select a shirt color that is lighter than the color of your suit. John Molloy's book on appearance and dress for men, Dress for Success, goes into great detail on shirts, ties, and practically everything you might wear or carry with you. We recommend Molloy's book because it is based on unobtrusive research.
However, you must take Molly's advice one step beyond where he takes you: keep in mind your color type. If you have contrast or light-bright coloring, you will look great wearing your shade of white in a shirt with your navy blue shade in a suit. But if you have muted or gentle coloring, this is too much contrast for you. For muted or gentle coloring, the combination of navy and white will visually overpower you and you will not look your most enhanced.
If you are a muted or gentle color type, the look that gives you the greatest power look and yet does not overpower you will be a suit in your most flattering shade of gray worn with a shirt in your shade of white. You can expect your white to be less of a "pure" white (a bit more creamy - but not beige) than the white a contrast or a light-bright would wear. When you wear a navy suit, pair it with a blue shirt rather than a white one. This combines your colors in a level of contrast effective for your coloring.
Never Be Late to the Interview
You must arrive on time, preferably ten to fifteen minutes before the scheduled interview. Regardless of your reason, if you are late for the interview, it is almost impossible to recover from getting off to a poor start. If you are unfamiliar with the location of the interview, could have trouble finding parking, have a babysitter that has a habit of arriving late, or drive an undependable car -- anything that could delay you -- you must plan for the unpredictable. Scout the location the day prior to the interview or leave yourself extra time to get there on the day of the interview. Perhaps you should do both.
Always remember the importance of the first five minutes of the interview. You will be off to a very bad start if you miss your first five minutes altogether. You simply must find a way to arrive ten to fifteen minutes prior to the stated interview time. This will give you time to compose yourself and check your appearance in a nearby restroom. If you expect to have application forms to fill out or security to clear, you should arrive even earlier.
However, if you arrive too early, kill some time by going for a cup of coffee or driving around the block. Try not to arrive more than fifteen minutes early or you may make the receptionist and interviewer feel uncomfortable.
When you arrive at the office, introduce yourself to the receptionist and give the name of the person you are scheduled to see. The receptionist will probably ask you to be seated. Be courteous to this person as well as everyone you meet within the organization. Employers are known to solicit or consider the reactions of such employees toward interviewees prior to the final hiring decision.
If you wear a winter or rain coat to the interview, take it off in the outer office as soon as you arrive and leave it there during the interview.
While waiting in the outer office, be careful with the type of materials others may see you reading. Materials about the company are best because you may learn something about the company that you might comment on during the interview, and you will appear interested in the organization. If nothing is available on the company, your next choice should be a business magazine. Since you are already on display, make your choice of reading material a positive statement about you.
Overcoming Nervousness
While sitting in the outer office waiting to be called for the interview, you will probably feel nervous. This is human at a time like this. Instead of trying to rid yourself of these feelings, try to channel them productively. The same physiological process that makes you feel nervousness also makes you more alert than normal.
It should keep you on your toes and help you respond better to questions during the interview.
You can better control your nervousness by following the same advice often given to public speakers. As you walk into the interview room, try to take slow deep breaths. You can do this subtly so the interviewer will be unaware of it. Although this is easier said than done, the more you can get your mind off yourself and concentrate on the other person, the more comfortable you will feel. If you are nervous, you are probably focusing too much attention on yourself. You are self-consciously concerned with how you are doing and what impression you are making on others. Try to be more other-directed. Rather than concentrate on your needs and fears, concern yourself with the employer's needs and questions.
Preparation is probably the greatest aid in lessening nervousness.
If you have done your homework well -carried out you should walk into the interview feeling well prepared and confident. If you arrive early for the interview, you will have a chance to collect your thoughts, take those deep breaths, and focus your attention toward the employer.
Greeting the Interviewer
The secretary may inform you to go see the interviewer or the interviewer may come out to meet you. Either way, stand to your full height before you take a step. Look alert, forceful, and energetic.
If the interviewer comes out to meet you, walk over and shake his or her hand firmly.
If you are sent to the room where the interviewer is standing, walk toward him or her and shake hands. If he or she is seated and does not look up, stand up, or offer a handshake, you should wait a moment and then sit down. However, wait for the interviewer to initiate the conversation.
