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Expert top tips: how to dress to impress at an interview
Rosalie Poels from image consultants, Colour Me Beautiful, says you
must choose what you wear for an interview with care if you want to
make a lasting impression. Here are her five top tips on how to dress
to impress the interview panel:
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Being appropriate is key; a suit is not always the best or only option for an interview. Consider the industry of the company and do a bit of research. Roles in the financial, corporate sector will generally mean go suited and booted, but within the media or more creative roles it may not be necessary. As long as you are smart and very well groomed, a pair of trousers and a shirt or a dress/skirt (not too short) and top (not too revealing) can be more relevant. You will also feel more relaxed if you are dressed similarly to your interviewers, as long you are slightly smarter than them. But remember that it’s always better to be too smart than not smart enough.
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Don’t reach for fail-safe black – you will be more memorable if you wear some colour, particularly if you will be taking part in any group interviews. Colours have psychological properties, so injecting some colour can also help invigorate you more which will give off good energy. That said, be careful of wearing garish or clashing colours or you may be remembered for the wrong reasons. On this note, men should steer clear of comedy ties!
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Take the minimum amount of ‘stuff’ with you. Ladies – decant only your essential items into a neat, compact handbag rather than lugging an oversized bag bulging full of tissues, make-up, receipts and goodness know what else. Men – don’t fill your pockets with keys and wallets and spoil the look of your carefully selected outfit; a smart, simple man-bag or folder into which you can also neatly put your CV and other documents looks far more professional.
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If you have long hair and are prone to nervous fiddling it’s usually better to wear it back, off your face, to avoid detracting from what you are saying. If you are in need of a haircut, don’t put it off – have one before your interview. Above all take time in your grooming to wash and style your hair. This means the men as well as the women! For both men and women it’s also important to have clean, tidy nails. The interview may be a nail-biting process but having dirty nails or chipped, old nail varnish can be one of the main things an interviewer remembers about you.
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Take the time to iron your clothes; crumpled clothes are not inspiring. If your suit has seen better days take it to the dry cleaners to smarten it up; if it’s got to the shiny stage, use this as an excuse to invest in a new one, particularly if you will need if for your new role. Also, remember to polish your shoes and get them heeled or soled if necessary; this is far cheaper than buying a new pair but will make them seem clean and smart.
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