Dress for Success - Appearance Matters!
The Career Services Centers recommend a conservative, professional approach to
dress for an interview. While you might not agree with the following, all are
considerations for being screened out of a job interview due to appearance,
depending on the organization, your career field, and the perspective of the
person interviewing you. When in doubt, be conservative, be professional, and be
aware that you are selling a total package.
Recommendations for Men:
- Dark suits, properly fitted, preferably wool or wool blend
- Dark dress shoes, polished and buffed (no loafers)
- Dark dress socks
- Conservative neck tie (no bright colors or loud patterns)
- Long-sleeve shirt, even in warm weather
- Good leather belt (shows your attention to detail)
- No earrings or other jewelry (wedding or class ring permitted)
- Well-groomed facial hair
- No long side burns or long hair
- Nails - trim and clean
Recommendations for Women:
- Dark coordinated suits, properly fitted (not provocative), with matching dress blouse (no plunging neckline)
- Skirt length no more than one inch above the knee
- Polished matching dress shoes with moderate heel (no open toe/heeled shoes)
- Neutral colored hose (no runs)
- Hair past shoulder length pulled away from face
- Minimal conservative classic jewelry (no flashy, dangling earrings)
- Natural looking make-up
- Clear or conservatively colored nail polish, no chipped nail polish
Recommendations for All:
- Dress watch
- Carry a nice pen (speaks volumes about your understanding of quality)
- Fresh breath
- Freshly bathed/showered (no body odor, use deodorant)
- Freshly pressed clothing
Image Breakers!
- Heavy cologne/perfume
- Visible tattoos
- Visible body piercing
- Unnatural hair color (purple, green, orange, etc.)
- Poor posture (stand and sit up straight)
- Lack of a firm handshake
- Overstuffed briefcase, bag, or pockets
- Scuffed shoes
- Loose or missing buttons
- Clothing that is wrinkled, too tight, or too big