Interview Appearance Guidelines That Make Sense

By Karen Conole

What’s the easiest part of any job interview?

“Arriving on time” should be at the top of your list, but a close second should be “presenting a good appearance,” because you have plenty of time to do it right.

Not only is the way you present yourself easier to control than, say, the questions you may be asked, but it is also one of the more important elements of your interview, because it creates the interviewer’s critical first impression of you.

You may have heard that most of us form our impressions of others in the first eight seconds, or thereabouts. While this doesn’t seem like much time in which to judge a person’s character, think about how long it takes you to form an opinion of someone you first meet, before a word is spoken.

Chances are, you base most of your first impression of someone on that person’s dress and grooming, and filter what he or she says through the context of that first once-over.

If your initial impression is a negative one, turning it around may take quite some time and some compelling conversation on that person’s part.

Now suppose you were the one being judged. Well, you are—every day of your life—so be prepared, especially for important judgments, such as those that are formed in the course of an interview. Make sure you can pass the “3 Senses Test” before stepping through the door:

Sense of Smell

This one seems obvious, but most of us are so used to our own smells that we don’t realize the impact they might have on others, particularly since the sense of smell is the first to fatigue (meaning you don’t notice it yourself, after a while). Many people are allergic to a variety of products and others have bad associations with certain scents, even pleasant ones. Since you don’t know if your interviewer falls into either of these groups, it’s best to be “scent neutral” when entering an interview. You, as well as all your clothing items, must be clean and free of any perfumes or aftershaves.

Sense of Sound

Have you ever been in quiet surroundings, such as a library, and heard one, insistent sound that interrupted your thoughts? Remember how annoying that was? Now imagine how your interviewer would feel if, while trying to form questions and process information, she heard your keys/pocket change/jewelry jangling every few seconds? You want your interviewer to be able to focus on what you’re saying without distraction, so keep your pockets empty and leave the jingly jewelry at home.

Sense of Sight

This is often the first sense by which you are judged, and it covers a lot. An easy rule of thumb is to model your look after a newscaster, politician, corporate head or any other public figure whose look is meant to inspire credibility and competence. If you follow these rules of thumb that battle, at least, will be won:

1. No over stylized, overly casual or over-the-top hairstyles. Save the tousled, rolled-out-of-bed look for the clubs and the braids/pigtails for the beach. Unkempt styles or styles that obscure your face will make you appear sloppy or withdrawn, and not-found-in-nature hair colors will diminish your professionalism. Although you may want to hint at your “edgy” side, that’s not what law office administrators are looking for, so suppress that impulse. Neat, conservative styles win the day.

2. Although it should go without saying, take the time to shave before arriving. Even if you favor the “grunge/beatnik” look, interviewers generally don’t, so if you have a beard or goatee, be sure it’s neatly trimmed.

3. Subtle make-up only, please. Glittery eye shadow, unnatural colors or pronounced lip lining, etc. will be extremely distracting to your message. You don’t want the interviewer mentally redoing your makeup instead of listening to what you say.

4. Well manicured finger nails are often an overlooked but important detail. You don’t want your interviewer hesitant to shake hands because your nails are too long, too ragged or just too dirty. Ugh! Both men and women must keep all their nails clean and well-groomed.

5. When it comes to jewelry, less is more, so a good rule of thumb is, “When in doubt, leave it out.” Also, nose rings, eyebrow rings or other body jewelry, regardless of how beautiful or special, are seldom considered acceptable interview attire to most hiring personnel.

6. As for clothing, a conservative suit is still #1 on every interviewer’s wish-to-see list, for both men and women, so the closer you come to that ideal, the better. Skirt hemlines should be no more than three inches above your knee and any vents should not expose any upper leg when you sit. No peek-a-boo blouses, either. You don’t want to be tugging and adjusting your clothes during the interview, so be sure your clothes fit well, but not snugly, when sitting as well as standing.

For men, a tie is always a good idea, but wearing one with a political/musical/sports/comedic theme to an interview is a risky way to make a statement; it may be appreciated but more likely it won’t be taken seriously and neither will you.

Do not take off your jacket in the interview.

And Charlie Chan was right: You can tell a lot about a person by their shoes. Be sure to clean and polish your shoes just before the interview because scuffed or dirty shoes, while not mentioned, never go unnoticed.

Leather, whether it’s a skirt, jacket or even blazer, is not a good choice for interviews. Save it for after work. That goes for shiny fabrics, flashy colors or prints and anything else you might wear to a club. Always keep in mind that an interview is not a date, and that the two “uniforms” are different. What you would wear to one is not the one you should wear to the other.

7. Don’t bring any “paraphernalia” (i.e., books, bags, ipods, etc.) that might distract the interviewer from focusing on you. Instead, carry only an inconspicuous, conservative briefcase in good condition, to hold at least two clean copies of your resume and references, your keys, and purse or wallet. Leave everything else locked in your car.

8. Lastly, gum, candy and cigarettes should never make an appearance in an interview and—even though grandmothers are now sporting them—visible tattoos are still a no-no, as are face or body piercings, so cover them up whenever possible.

Since you have the time to prepare, leave nothing to chance. Try on your complete outfit before your interview day and critique your look as if you were the interviewer. Check for any stains, loose buttons, etc. and correct them. Remember: Interviews are all about playing a role, and your role is that of the best candidate for the job, so look the part and increase your odds of a “call back.”

It’s not only good strategy, it makes good sense.