Men's "Dress for Success" Interview Attire Checklist

A job interview is the doorway to a job offer. Making a good impression is crucial. It takes just seconds for someone to form an opinion about you based on first impressions. This is exactly why your personal appearance is so important at a job interview.

Dressing in loud colors or patterns, dressing too casually or wearing lots of distracting accessories or cologne will draw attention to your appearance. In a job interview, your goal should be to showcase your personality, drive and commitment, not your clothes.

If you are ever in question about how to dress for an interview, err on the side of conservatism. However, a little investigating might give you a clearer picture on what the current workplace dress code is. You could call Human Resources and ask about their dress code. You could also visit the company and ask for an application at the front desk and personally check out what other employees are wearing. Either way, whatever the current dress code is, plan on dressing a step nicer to show you are taking the interview opportunity seriously.

If you enjoy a more creative personal style, but are interviewing for a job in a corporate environment, it is still important to dress conservatively for the interview. Many people express themselves through the way they dress. Ideally, people should not be judged by what they wear, but reality is that in an interview, you are being judged not only on what you wear, but on many other factors. Don't let your clothing become a distraction in an interview.

Here are a few guidelines for how women should dress in a professional interview.

Clothing

• Dark, solid color, conservative suit
• White or light blue dress shirt to coordinate with the suit
• Silk tie that contrasts with your shirt. A subtle and simple pattern tends to enhance credibility
• Dark colored socks
• Conservative, polished dress shoes to match pant. Select lace up shoes instead of loafers
• A belt to match your shoes
• In cooler weather, a long overcoat should be worn instead of a casual coat.

Accessories

• A brief case or simple portfolio
• Very limited jewelry such as a dress watch and no more than one ring per hand
• Remove any facial piercings

Personal Hygiene

• Neatly trimmed and clean finger nails
• A short hair cut and no facial hair
• Very light or no cologne
• Brushed teeth

In choosing what to wear to an interview, remember, you are marketing yourself to a potential employer. Dressing in a conservative, non-distracting way will give you a competitive edge and make a positive first impression.