Dressing for the Job Search
If you ask someone, “Do you know what to wear when you go looking for a job?” The response would probably be “yes”. However, every day many good job applicants miss the opportunity to present their skills to an employer because they go looking for a job dressed incorrectly.
Although dress codes at many companies have changed during the last 15 years, employers still expect job seekers to “Dress for Success”. That means dressing to impress while not overdoing it.
Many young people feel that if they wear a designer label T-shirt or jersey, with designer label jeans and color coordinated athletic shoes they are correctly dressed. But it is not like that at all. When you are seeking employment, the rules are different; you wear what they wear.
Job searching is not a social activity. You should wear clothing that reflects your seriousness to find a job. Your outfit should tell a potential employer you have confidence, a sense of self pride, and that you are ready for success. First impressions can help or hurt you, so always try to make a good one. Here are a few guidelines that should help you make a good first impression.
- Being well groomed starts with good personal care or hygiene. While this may seem elementary, forgetting one of the following care tips could cost you a job. Always shower or bathe, use deodorant, trim and clean fingernails, brush your teeth and never wear loud perfumes or cologne.
- Hair
- Recently shampooed
- Neatly trimmed
- Appropriate styles for the workplace
- Do not wear trendy hairstyles
- Ensure styles are conservative
- Refrain from bright hair colors
- Jewelry
- Keep it simple (No flashy pieces or large ornaments)
- Be consistent. (Wear all gold or all silver pieces)
- No body jewelry, except for earrings, preferably one pair – no tongue, nose, or eyebrow rings or any visible body piercing.
- Men – remove earrings for the interview and the workplace
- Clothing
- Clean and pressed
- No tears or stains
- Appropriate shoes well polished, no sandals or tennis shoes