Making a positive first impression – what to wear to a job interview

Deciding what to wear to a job interview can sometimes be a bit tricky, particularly if you don’t have a huge amount of working experience. There are lot of things to consider such as the type of work, the industry and the weather (particularly in the depths of winter or the height of summer!).

Regardless of these factors, it is essential to choose clothing that will help you make a good impression. Given statistics show it only takes 7 seconds to make a first impression, putting some thought and effort into what you wear to a job interview can make a big difference to how you are viewed by recruiters and potential employers. Additionally, choosing the right outfit can make you feel more confident – as well as look confident – which can also contribute to a positive first impression!

To help you make the right decisions about what to wear, consider these tips:

• Research the industry or employer beforehand – If you are unsure what to wear to a job interview, start by doing some research. Go to the employer’s website and their social media pages and look at what employees are wearing. Are they wearing business attire? Or is it smart, casual attire? Once you have this information, think about the clothes you could wear to the job interview that matches these images.

For trade jobs, or jobs in sectors such as mining, where you are expected to wear a uniform, it may not be appropriate to match your interview attire with what employees wear at work. In these job interview situations, aim for a neat and tidy, business casual look with closed shoes and no hat.

If you are really stuck about what to wear, go back to the recruiter or ring the employer’s HR manager and ask for some pointers about the dress code.

• Be conservative – With the exception of some industries, such as advertising and hairdressing where it may benefit you to show some flair and creativity, it is best to wear clothing to a job interview that is considered conservative. Essentially, this is traditional clothing that is not too colourful or too busy.

For women, this also means:

• avoiding clothes that are revealing
• wearing dresses or skirts that are knee length or longer
• making sure heels are a sensible height, are toe-closed and conventional
• neatly styling your hair or tying it back
• keeping accessories to a minimum.

For men, this also means:

• a collared shirt without graphics or large logos
• closed shoes
• a belt
• pants without tears or rips in them
• ensuring you have shaved or your facial hair is tidy.

If you have tattoos or body piercings, it may be worthwhile covering these with long pants and long sleeved shirts.

• Consider investing in some new clothes – If you are actively job hunting, think about purchasing some new work clothes that can be worn at job interviews, as well as at your new job. Don’t try and squeeze into an old suit or dress that doesn’t fit like it used to. Make sure the clothing you choose fits well and is also contemporary. New clothes that fit well will give you confidence and should steer employers and recruiters away from any negative perceptions associated with old, tired and ill-fitting apparel. It is also worth remembering that many employers require two interviews for a job and therefore having more than one outfit may be valuable in these instances.

• Try out your job interview outfit beforehand – Rather than waiting until the morning of the job interview to piece an outfit together (Where is that blouse?!), it may be helpful for your preparation and general demeanour on the day of the interview to organise and try on your job interview outfit beforehand. Not only will doing this help you be punctual on the day of the interview, but it will assist in ensuring that you have picked an outfit which will deliver the most positive impression.

In fact, preparing your outfit ahead of time will help you take into account:

• Whether your chosen items of clothing are clean and have no holes or other problems with them
• Which items of clothing are comfortable to wear
• The weather forecast on the day of the interview – is it going to be hot or cold?
• Which items of clothing work well together?

Following these tips should make it easier when deciding what you should wear to your job interview. Once you have this sorted, you can then focus on the other important aspects of the interview, which are showcasing your skills, experience, and training and education.