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.
Few would consider wearing anything other than a suit to a job interview - especially an interview for a managerial or professional position. Women are often less certain what is appropriate. As a result of research conducted by John Molly and others, the verdict is now in. A skirted suit is the definite choice for the interview. This attire allows a woman to best convey images of professionalism, authority, and competence. Wearing a skirted suit can initially help a woman overcome negative stereotypes that some men still hold toward women in managerial and other professional positions.
Let us survey appropriate suits in terms of color, fabric, and style. As in the case of men's suits, the color of your suit can help create an image of authority and competence. The suit colors that make the strongest positive statements for you are your shade of gray in a medium to charcoal depth or your shade of blue in a medium to navy depth of color. Maroon and camel also test well. Avoid black, which can convey so much authority in a business suit that many interviewers find it threatening. Also, avoid solid brown. British looking tweeds and small plaids or herringbone designs in brown are acceptable, but a solid dark brown suit does not test well in most geographical areas.
When selecting your gray, navy, camel, or any other colored suit, follows the same rules we outline for men: choose a shade that is enhancing to you. If you are uncertain which shades are best for you, contact a Color 1 Associate for advice.
Similar to men's suits, your suit should be made of a natural fiber or have the "look" of a natural fiber. The very best winter-weight suit fabrics are wool or wool blends. For the warmer climates or the summer months, women will find few, if any, summer weight wool suits made for them. Hence linen, blended with a synthetic so it will not look as if it needs constant pressing, or a textured silk are good choices. Other fabrics, such as polyester blended with rayon, in clothing of good quality often has the definite look of linen but without the hassles of caring for real linen. But the key work here is quality. A cheap polyester/rayon fabric will look just that. Avoid 100 percent polyester material, or anything that looks like it -especially double knits - like the plague it is.
Your suit style should be classic. Following similar rules as for men, women's suits should be well-tailored, well-styled, and avoid a "trendy" look unless appropriate for certain occupations. A conservative, classic suit will last for years and is an excellent investment. Indeed, you can afford to buy good quality clothing if you know you will get a lot of use from the item. When deciding on your professional wardrobe, always buy clothes to last and buy quality.
Quality also means buying silk blouses if you can afford them. Keep in mind not only the price of the blouse itself, but the cleaning bill. There are many polyester blouse fabrics that have the look and feel of silk - this is an exception to the "no polyester" rule. Silk or polyester that has the look and feel of silk is the fabrics for blouses to go with your business suits. Cotton blouses, though a natural fabric, should generally not be paired with a business suit. The look of cotton is best saved for your casual clothing. Choose your blouses in your most flattering shades and clarity of color. John Molloy's book on appearance and dress for women, The Woman's Dress for Success Book, goes into great detail on the blouse styles that test best as well as expands on suit colors. It includes information on almost anything you might wear or carry with you to the interview or on the job.
Although the skirted suit is the most professional look you can select, if you believe the situation calls for a professional, yet somewhat less authoritative look, you may choose to wear a conservatively tailored dress either with or without a jacket. But be certain you have carefully analyzed your interview situation before you take this option.
Remember too, as in the case of men, you must take Molloy's advice one step further: keep in mind your color type. Contrast or light-bright coloring types look great wearing their shade of white in a blouse with their navy blue shade in a suit. Muted or gentle color types will find this to be too much contrast and thus overpower their natural coloring. Such a color combination actually diminishes their power look.
If you are a muted or gentle color type, why not try your coral red shade blouse with your navy suit or wear your shade of white with your gray shade suit. Once you are aware of your color type and how to best enhance it while retaining visual authority, you will find many new and flattering combinations.
Give your outfit a more "finished and polished" look by accessorizing it effectively. Collect silk scarves and necklaces of semi precious stones in your suit colors. Wear scarves and necklaces with your suits and blouses in such a way that they repeat the color of the suit. For example, a woman wearing a navy suit and a red silk blouse could accent the look by wearing a necklace of navy Sodalite beads or a silk scarf that has navy as a predominate color.
The most appropriate shoe to wear with a business suit is a classic pump -- closed heel and toe with little or no decoration. Not only does this shoe stand by itself as creating the most professional look, it also teams best with a business suit and is flattering at the same time. An open-toe shoe or a sling-back can be worn with a suit, but will slightly diminish the wearer's professional look. Avoid shoes with the heel and toe open as well as any sandal look.
They can be beautiful shoes, but save them for evening wear. We have observed many women arriving for job interviews wearing suits, but ruining their professional image by wearing strappy sandal shoes. In general, wear shoes as dark as or darker than your skirt. If not, you may draw the other person's eyes to your feet when, instead, you want them to focus on your face and on what you are saying.
You may choose to carry a purse or an attaché case, but not both at the same time. It is difficult not to look clumsy trying to handle both a purse and an attaché case, and it is likely to diminish your power look as well. One way to carry both is to keep a slim purse with essentials such as lipstick, mirror, and money inside the attaché case. If you need to go out to lunch, or any place where you choose not to carry the attaché case, just pull out your purse and you're off.
Buying Quality Apparel
Aside from information on what articles of apparel to wear, a word on the quality of what you purchase is in order. Buy the best you can afford. If you are not gainfully employed, this may seem like impractical advice. But it still remains your best choice. Two really good suits with a variety of shirts or blouses will. Look better from the first day you own them than four suits of inferior quality --and will outlast them as well. To buy quality rather than quantity is a good habit to form.
Buy the best you can afford. Stretch your money by shopping sales or discount outlets if you wish. But remember, it isn't a bargain if it isn't right for you. A suit that never quite fits or isn't exactly your best shade is not a bargain no matter how many times it has been marked down. John Molloy's books have useful hints on how to overcome a "middle-class" background and learn to buy quality clothing at reasonable prices.
In addition to buying natural fibers in clothing whenever possible, invest in real leather for shoes, attaché case, and handbag - if you carry one. Leather conveys a professional look and will outlast the cheap looking imitations you might buy. In the end, we get what we pay for.
Your Arrival
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.
