November 18, 2014

Dress to impress at an interview

You’ve done half the work – you’ve got an interview! Now comes the chance to impress them further with your knowledge, personality and, er, appearance. Because, as much as we like to say ‘never judge a book by its cover’, at an interview, everything matters.

So what should you wear?

Clean bee

Firstly, plan what you’re going to wear at least 2 days before to give yourself time to wash anything that isn’t clean, iron out any creases and try on the whole outfit, ensuring that you feel comfortable and confident in it. After all, the better you feel in an outfit, the better you’ll perform!

The perfect fit

Another reason to try your chosen outfit on before the big day is to check that everything fits as well as it did the last time you wore it. That means no gaping and buying a belt if you need to keep those trousers up!

 True colours

Choosing what colours to wear to an interview can be a tricky one; do you stick to the classic but depressing tone of black, or do you dazzle them with green jeans and an orange blazer? The trick is to find a middle ground between the two. A splash of colour is great, for example colourful shoes, blazer or handbag, teamed with a dress or trouser and shirt combo in more neutral shades of grey, black or navy blue.

Dress to impress?

Again, wear whatever you feel the most comfortable in. If you never wear dresses, then don’t buy one just for your interview; well-fitting trousers and a shirt and blazer or smart jumper will look just as professional. If you do opt for a dress or skirt, ensure that it’s an appropriate length (knee-length or longer is always a safe bet) and carry a spare pair of tights with you on the day in case of an emergency!

(Dress & White Shirt from Next & Suit from Zara. Click pictures for link)

 Smile!

Whilst it’s important to look the part, your potential future employer has invited you along to an interview because they like the sound of you and what you can bring to the business from reading your application. So keep that in mind and show off your best accessory – your smile!

Some great places to pick up interview wear are H&M, Next, Gap or Primark for basics such as a white shirt. Check out our top tips for savvy shopping!