There are three old but still relevant axioms I’d like to quote here.  The first is:  You can’t judge a book by its cover. The second is:  What you see is what you get. And the third is: You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Now when we think of how well we fit into particular work environments, chances are that one of those old sayings describes us best.  But to an employer doing interviews of prospective hires, the way you present yourself may not necessarily be completely accurate.  It may not be the way you think others see you!
Unfortunately most interviews don’t last long enough for an employer to get a very complete picture of who you are.  For this reason it is all the more important that you are able to demonstrate through your mode of dress that you fit it to their workplace.  Yes, the rules of workplace attire are not as hard and fast and in days gone by, and the lines of what is acceptable clothing are blurred.  But employers are still trying to find people who can represent their company and corporate image, as well as primarily find people who can do the jobs they need done.  So the image you present during an interview can be crucial to the employer’s perception that you fit those important criteria.
While not all employers share a common vision of how people who fill certain jobs should dress, it is important to remember that once hired, you’ll be a representative of that company, and the employer wants you to fit in with that vision.  For example, if you’re being hired for an outside sales job, where you will constantly be going into others’ offices, the employer will want to be confident that – in addition to being able to effectively sell their products or services – your image to others will be neat and presentable as well as professional.  If you are being hired as a graphic designer, your attire may be less of a concern to most employers when you’re in the studio working, but it might still be important when you are meeting with clients to present yourself professionally.  Tee shirts and ripped jeans internally, but a couple of steps up when you’ve got to represent.
Gone are the days when all bankers looked buttoned down.  It’s not uncommon today to see tellers and new accounts representatives wearing khakis and polo shirts.  So since the lines are so blurry, how do you know what to wear?
The standard rule of thumb remains to always dress a little better for interviews than what may be required on a day-to-day basis. How do find out what that is?  Ask!  If you scored your interview through networking, talk to the person who referred you, and ask about the daily attire they’ve witnessed in that company.  If you have no contact with anyone on the inside, call and talk with the receptionist and simply ask how people dress on a regular basis.  Is typical attire business casual?  Is it strict professional?  Is it very casual?
Of course the position you are interviewing for will help determine what may be expected of your garb, so use your best judgment.  If you’ve been in a particular industry for a while, you’ll have a good idea of how to dress for your interview based on past experience.  But if you are a newcomer to that industry, you may also be able to determine appropriate dress by looking at related event photos from trade-related website or publications.
While the standards for interviewing dress continue to lean toward the conservative side, what is considered acceptable has evolved a lot over the years. It is still best practice to limit jewelry (nothing dangly or noisy or too ostentatious), your hair should be neat, your shoes should be clean.  If you dress like a slob, even if you are highly qualified for the job, you will likely leave the interviewer with the perspective that you are disorganized, and someone they may not want representing their business.
Ultimately you want to be judged by the quality of the work you can contribute, not by what you wear, but employers will judge you – correctly or not – by your appearance, by your cover, if you will.  If you dress appropriately for your interviews, the employer will perceive they will get what they see.  Someone prepared to do a good job!  Is what they see, what they get?
And a Happy Labor Day to one and all!
For more tips and help for job seekers and those on the job please search this blog and visit:  hanklondon.com