They say you should dress for the job you want, not the job you have. You’ve got to dress for business success! It’s interesting that the clothing we choose has an effect on how we carry ourselves and ultimately on our lives. This may seem like a stretch, but if you really think about it; when you dress up and feel good you automatically do better – you strive for more and you feel like you can take on the world!
When you’re thinking of the perfect ensemble to wear to your next job, first consider how you want to feel. Plus what you want to be portrayed as, and whether or not the outfit is appropriate for the role you’re applying for. If you need a little more guidance in this area, then you may want to look at our useful list.
- Choose an interview outfit that’ll make you feel confident
Source: Glamour
When choosing the perfect interview outfit, it’s important that you consider how the outfit makes you feel. Sometimes we try so hard to look professional for an interview that we end up choosing an outfit that feels so unfamiliar to us, which leaves us feeling a little ‘awkward’.
If you’re not usually a suit and tie type of guy, or a pencil skirt and shirt kind of woman, rather don’t wear this to your interview. Instead of dressing in a way that’s unfamiliar to you; instead pick out something that you feel most confident and comfortable in, and that feels like you. You’ll find that you’ll be a lot more relaxed, confident and yourself, than you would be dressed up in something that’s just not who you are.
2. How do you want to be seen?
Of course, you want to be seen as professional in your interview, but how else do you want to be seen? This ties in a little with the nature of the role. If you’re applying for a job in the creative space, perhaps you want to show some of your creative side through your outfit. In this case you may want to opt for print, or even color-block your outfit.
If you’re applying for a finance role, perhaps you want to come across as trustworthy. And believe me, there is a way of portraying this through what you wear. It lays in the way you choose to style; the colors you pick and the way you carry yourself. More serious, professional or business executive roles seem to lean towards a darker color palette, while it’s more than acceptable to wear color and print for junior and creative roles.
3. Pick an outfit appropriate for the role
Source: Beauty Forever
This is a really important business point – if there’s one thing you take away from this article; it’s dressing appropriately for the role that you’re applying/interviewing for. You will look completely ridiculous if you overdress or underdress for the specific role, so make sure you know exactly what would be expected of the person in that job.
If, for example, you’re applying for a position as a lawyer, you cannot under dress. Here it’s okay to overdress – but still not too much. You need to at least be wearing smart shoes or high heels; and should be in a suit if you’re a man, and perhaps a pants/skirt suit if you’re a woman. Side note tip: House of Monatic have great workwear clothing options! Now, you wouldn’t dress like this if you’re interviewing for a role as a call center agent or a store assistant. Then you would dress down – because it’s a more relaxed/less serious role than that of a lawyer, but of course you still need to dress respectably. Catch the drift? Wear an outfit that you would most likely wear to work if you got that job.
4. Consider some colour and accessories
Color and accessories make even the plainest outfit look edgy and, in fact, quite professional too. Although you need to be careful not to over-do it because you can look either like you’re trying too hard, or you could come across as ‘flashy’. This is especially the case when adding jewelry to your look. It’s important to find a balance and wear things that compliment you and compliment the outfit, rather than wearing it to look stylish. Make sure that if you were color, it compliments your skin tone – and again think of the role that you’re applying for. Very seldom do senior roles sway from the dark color palette – as previously mentioned. So keep all of these details in mind to ensure you fit right in and bag that dream job!