What to Wear to Your Interview
Before the Interview
At Barracuda Staffing, we recruit for a variety of positions ranging anywhere from the executive level, to general labor positions. One of the most frequently asked questions a recruiter encounters is, “What should I wear to my interview?”
Recruiters invest a lot of time and effort into providing opportunities for our candidates because we strive to find a long-term permanent fit for our candidates and clients. When the time comes for the candidate to shine in the interview with our clients, it is important for you to have situational awareness moving into the formal interview. Especially in knowing how to dress for the formal interview. Having that conversation with your recruiter is the first step. Once informed, showing up to an interview dressed appropriately for the role you are interviewing for shows the company that you have invested time in understanding the organization’s culture and position requirements.
Typical Dress Codes
There are three areas of dress code for a job interview, they include business formal, business casual, and casual. Having a firm understanding of the position you are applying for will be your guide in dressing for the occasion. In addition, you never know who you will encounter when the time comes. Putting yourself in a position to make a good impression is key. Every encounter while on the job site is an interview, so put forth effort to make a good impression on everyone – from the secretary that greets you to the hiring manager that is making the final decision. In deciding what you should wear to your interview you should ask yourself, “How can I best represent myself, and this company if they are interested in hiring me?” In conclusion, you should always dress for the job you want, but also dress for the company to which you want to work for. Here are some final guidelines to take into consideration.
Six General Guidelines
- Do your homework prior to your interview.
- Pay attention to the details of the position and what it requires.
- Play it safe, err on the side of over dressing, you don’t want to be under-dressed.
- Put the perfume and the cologne away.
- When in doubt, prepare your outfit the night before so you are not late to your interview.
- Ask for a second opinion if you are unsure.