Although men's fashion styles come and go, there is one thing that has held true for many years and probably will continue to for many to come: when attending a job interview, you should wear a suit. Sometimes people ask, "is it okay to combine a suit jacket with different pants?" In my opinion, no, it is not. Your best bet for a job interview is to wear a two-piece suit. Simply put, the two-piece suit creates the positive first impression you want to make by helping you to appear polished, professional, and put together.
Why not three button or four button? Three button may be seen as a little too formal, whereas four button may be viewed as too trendy (it's all in the details). However, depending on the job for which you are interviewing, you may want to appear just a little bit trendy. This may apply in arts-related fields, such as if you are interviewing for a cutting edge graphics design firm. Go with your gut, but at the same time, if you are uncertain, it is best to waiver on the side of conservatism. You want the interviewer to be focused on what you are saying, not distracted by what you are wearing.
When selecting an interview suit, charcoal gray and navy are good colors from which to choose. Earth tones and light colors are generally regarded as too informal, so while there are lots of nice olive gray and brown suits out there, you may want to avoid them for your interview. While black was once seen as very formal, it is now commonly worn by men for many occasions. So if you feel your best in black, you can go for it. Navy or dark blue suits are generally regarded as a favorite to wear to an interview.
Solid color shirts and suits are best for an interview. If you want to wear a suit with a pattern, keep it subtle. A small pinstripe or light plaid pattern is acceptable, as long as it is light, and the suit appears solid colored from across the room.
If you are buying a suit off the rack or getting it altered before your interview, make sure that it fits properly. You'll want proper range of movement in the shoulders in order to allow you to shake hands, and potentially remove items from a portfolio. The suit jacket should fit so that it can be easily buttoned without creating tug marks across the fabric. The suit jacket cuffs should fit so that you have just about of an inch of your shirt sleeves showing when your arms are relaxed at your sides. When you sit down, you will need the bottom of your pants to reveal only a glimpse of your socks, not any bare leg.
Now, it's best to remember that few men can wear suits right off the rack. So don't plan to shop the day before the interview and expect to find a suit that fits you like a glove. Allow time for your suit to be tailored so that it fits you perfectly. This is definitely worth the investment-- both in terms of time and money.
We all know that job interviews can be a bit unnerving, so this is another reason to not wait until the last minute to select your suit. The morning before your interview, lay out all the pieces of your interview outfit: suit, shirt, tie, belt, socks and shoes. If your suit is new, make sure that you have removed all tell-tale signs, such as tags and extra buttons. Cut off the zig-zag thread that keep pockets and slits closed (make sure you look at the back of the jacket too). Insure that all of your clothing is clean, pressed and wrinkle-free.
According to Kim Zoller at Image Dynamics, 55% of another person's perception of you is based on how you look. So don't forget, the way you dress for an interview is crucial to making a good first impression and landing the job.
Author: Michael Taylor is a Marketing Manager at TIE SNUG. TIE SNUG eliminates continuous adjusting and makes wearing a tie more comfortable. Being concealed within your tie knot makes it perfect to wear to an interview. A slipping tie knot looks unprofessional, so be confident that you look your best with TIE SNUG. For more information or to make a purchase, please visit http://www.tiesnug.com.
By Michael D Taylor
Why not three button or four button? Three button may be seen as a little too formal, whereas four button may be viewed as too trendy (it's all in the details). However, depending on the job for which you are interviewing, you may want to appear just a little bit trendy. This may apply in arts-related fields, such as if you are interviewing for a cutting edge graphics design firm. Go with your gut, but at the same time, if you are uncertain, it is best to waiver on the side of conservatism. You want the interviewer to be focused on what you are saying, not distracted by what you are wearing.
When selecting an interview suit, charcoal gray and navy are good colors from which to choose. Earth tones and light colors are generally regarded as too informal, so while there are lots of nice olive gray and brown suits out there, you may want to avoid them for your interview. While black was once seen as very formal, it is now commonly worn by men for many occasions. So if you feel your best in black, you can go for it. Navy or dark blue suits are generally regarded as a favorite to wear to an interview.
Solid color shirts and suits are best for an interview. If you want to wear a suit with a pattern, keep it subtle. A small pinstripe or light plaid pattern is acceptable, as long as it is light, and the suit appears solid colored from across the room.
If you are buying a suit off the rack or getting it altered before your interview, make sure that it fits properly. You'll want proper range of movement in the shoulders in order to allow you to shake hands, and potentially remove items from a portfolio. The suit jacket should fit so that it can be easily buttoned without creating tug marks across the fabric. The suit jacket cuffs should fit so that you have just about of an inch of your shirt sleeves showing when your arms are relaxed at your sides. When you sit down, you will need the bottom of your pants to reveal only a glimpse of your socks, not any bare leg.
Now, it's best to remember that few men can wear suits right off the rack. So don't plan to shop the day before the interview and expect to find a suit that fits you like a glove. Allow time for your suit to be tailored so that it fits you perfectly. This is definitely worth the investment-- both in terms of time and money.
We all know that job interviews can be a bit unnerving, so this is another reason to not wait until the last minute to select your suit. The morning before your interview, lay out all the pieces of your interview outfit: suit, shirt, tie, belt, socks and shoes. If your suit is new, make sure that you have removed all tell-tale signs, such as tags and extra buttons. Cut off the zig-zag thread that keep pockets and slits closed (make sure you look at the back of the jacket too). Insure that all of your clothing is clean, pressed and wrinkle-free.
According to Kim Zoller at Image Dynamics, 55% of another person's perception of you is based on how you look. So don't forget, the way you dress for an interview is crucial to making a good first impression and landing the job.
Author: Michael Taylor is a Marketing Manager at TIE SNUG. TIE SNUG eliminates continuous adjusting and makes wearing a tie more comfortable. Being concealed within your tie knot makes it perfect to wear to an interview. A slipping tie knot looks unprofessional, so be confident that you look your best with TIE SNUG. For more information or to make a purchase, please visit http://www.tiesnug.com.
By Michael D Taylor
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