Outside of school the last thing that a student wants to do is homework. Unfortunately the tedious work of research doesn’t end once outside of the classroom door. If you want to be hired, you must do your studying and find out the most appropriate attire to wear to your job interview.
Luckily, there are online resources that offer helpful advice prior to dressing for your interview.
Collegegrad.com says that, “While the college campus may be the perfect forum in which to exhibit your flair for the latest in fashion style, the interview is not the place to do so. Even though many companies have relaxed the internal company dress code, interviews still follow the conservative standard. Don’t buck the trend.
Unfortunately, most college grads are woefully under prepared with proper interview dress. They feel they can “get by” with what is already in their wardrobe. Dress for the world outside college is quite different from the campus scene. This is not to say that you need to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe. Go for quality over quantity. One or two well-chosen business suits will serve you all the way to the first day on the job and beyond. Then, when you are making some money (and have a chance to see what the standard “uniform” is for the company), you can begin to round out your wardrobe. For now, no one will fault you for wearing the same sharp outfit each time you interview.
If you desire some variety within a limited budget, you might consider varying your shirt/blouse/tie/accessories as a simple way to change your look without breaking your wallet.
If you are still not sure how to dress for the interview, call them and ask! That’s right–call the employer. But this is one time when you do not want to call the Hiring Manager–instead, ask to be put through to Human Resources and say:
“I have an interview with _____ in the _____ department for a position as an _____. Could you please tell me what would be appropriate dress for this interview?”
Sure, you run the risk of someone in HR thinking you are a social imbecile, but that’s a lot better than having the Hiring Manager distracted by inappropriate interview dress.
One final note on interview dress: while it goes without saying that your interview clothes should be neat and clean, few interviewees give the same time and attention to their shoes. It is not enough to be clean, pressed, and ironed. Make sure your shoes are conservative, clean, and polished.”
