What You Wear to an Interview May Wear out Your Chances of Getting Hired

“One of my favourite quote is “you can work anywhere once you are dressed for it” –T.D. Jakes

That means you can also lose your chances of getting hired if you are not properly dressed. Last week we conducted an interview session in my office and many great minds where gathered, but a young man stood out, he had: Hairstyle: unkempt afro, Shirt: multi coloured, Trousers: ash trousers and  Footwear: A pair of brown sandals. Believe me that wasn’t a great sight and what was the result? He got the elbow. A lot has been said about knowing what to wear to that big interview, so without over flogging it, I would suggest some simple combinations that would save you. Interview Dress for Men and Women • Conservative two-piece business suit (solid dark blue or grey is best) • Conservative long-sleeved shirt/blouse (white is best, pastel is next best) • Clean, polished conservative shoes • Well-groomed hairstyle • Clean, trimmed fingernails • Minimal cologne or perfume • Empty pockets–no bulges or tinkling coins • No gum, candy or cigarettes • Light briefcase or portfolio case • No visible body piercing (nose rings, eyebrow rings, etc.) Interview Dress for Men • Necktie should be silk with a conservative pattern (wearing the company’s colour may get you noticed) • Dark shoes (black lace-ups are best) • Dark socks (black is best) • Get a haircut; short hair always fares best in interviews • No beards (unless you are interviewing for a job as a bus conductor!) • Mustaches are a possible negative, but if you must, make sure it is neat and trimmed • No rings other than wedding ring or college ring • No earrings (if you normally wear one, take it out) Interview Dress for Women • Always wear a suit with a jacket; no dresses • Shoes with conservative heels • Conservative hosiery at or near skin color (and no runs!) • No purses, small or large; carry a briefcase instead • If you wear nail polish (not required), use clear or a conservative color • Minimal use of makeup (it should not be too noticeable) • No more than one ring on each hand • One set of earrings only Writen By Kelechi Ekeghe, Editor at www.urbanmen.net Follow on twitter @iamkelechi @urbanmendotnet

---

You might also like:

• Air Peace Intl Ticket Prices Could Disrupt Nigeria’s Aviation Sector
• Africa Faces Widespread Internet Outage as Undersea Cables Suffer Failures
• A Melodic Ode for Mother’s Day: Nigerian Songs of Veneration
• Top Museums You Should Visit in Nigeria

This article was first published on 21st November 2011 and updated on January 25th, 2016 at 8:29 am

---

---

Comments (2)