What is the Proper Attire to Wear to an Informal Job Interview?

In choosing your informal interview clothes, understand the employer's definition of the word 'informal:' Words meaning the same as 'informal' include casual, comfortable, and unceremonious.

However, don't blow your chances for a great job opportunity by taking the word "informal" too literally. You are competing against others. Keep the odds in your favor. Wearing a wrinkled concert shirt to a job interview will not help your chances of being hired, even if the job is taking tickets at a concert amphitheater. Clean, neat and wrinkle-free is always required. The proper attire for an informal interview is very important, whether you are 16 or 60 years old.

Face, Hair

The head-to-toe proper attire for an informal job interview for men and women is relatively easy. What's the absolute most important part of the informal interview attire? Your eyes! Always look your interviewer in the eyes. This helps you appear confident and less nervous, even when you might be tied in knots with fear.

Secondly, smile! Smile while you extend your hand in greeting the interviewer. Smile as you repeat the interviewer's name when you meet them. Smile as you thank the interviewer at the end of the interview.

First impressions count. Show that you are ready and willing to put in a hard day's work, with an honest and hearty smile, to leave a good first impression on the interviewer.

Whether a baseball cap or a felt chapeau, hats are equally inappropriate for men and women. Please do not wear a hat to an interview. If the job requires a hat, wait for the job offer and further instructions before bouncing into the office with your favorite topper slapped onto your noggin. No hats.

Wash and comb your hair into a relatively conservative style for the interview. No interview meeting is a time for individual expression of the latest exotic hairstyle, or experimenting with hair dyes, whether male or female. Keep it simple.

Toiletries and Accessories

An informal interview is not the time to show-off your favorite 'bling.' If you must wear jewelry, less is more. One ring per hand is fine. Leave the big rhinestones, pearls, and large, flashy watches at home. If you have five ear piercings and a lip ring, take it all out, except for one ring in each ear - and those better not be giant hoops or plugs. Small studs or hoops are fine. Simple is the key. Furthermore, unless the potential job is at a tattoo shop, make sure tattoos covered either by clothing, bandage, or foundation type make-up.

Keep in mind that the legal trend regarding public smoking and health risks are especially not lost on asthmatics and allergy sufferers. If you smoke, make sure the clothes you wear to the informal interview were washed since you smoked in or near them. Likewise, cologne and perfume aromas can easily solicit an emergency asthma or allergy attack on your interviewer. Do not wear perfume or cologne, unless you want to be memorable as the guy or gal who made the interviewer sick. What kind of first impression might that leave? Argh!

Take a shower and put on deodorant before going to your informal interview. A simple, clean smell is best.

Gentlemen, please shave your face. Stubble is not going to win interview points - ever. Clean and simple is the key to walking in with the appropriate attire at any informal interview.

Ladies, please keep make-up to a minimum. A light wisp of lip, cheek, and eye color are fine. Keep it simple. This is an informal interview, not a formal date night.

Shirt, Pants, or Skirts

The easiest advice is what not to wear to an informal interview. Whether you are male or female, do not wear any clothing item with words, pictures, or colorful prints. Bright, flashy colors are not recommended, such as: red, bright blue, bright pink, bright orange and bright yellow. Again, keep it simple.

In choosing shirts, plain colors are always best for an informal interview. The easiest colors to deal with for shirts are white or tan, or pastels. A Polo® style short or three-quarter sleeve shirt is a good choice, as is a collared-button-front style shirt. If you wear a crew-neck style t-shirt, make sure the shirt is a plain color. Remember pictures, words, stains, or holes are never a good choice for an interview shirt.

Pants should be black or khaki in color. Jeans, shorts, skorts, mini-skirts, Capri-style pants, or over-sized, baggy pants are not appropriate for an informal interview. Jeans can sometimes be the exception, if they are a dark color, fitted similar to the Dickies® style, without holes or chains on them. Ladies, be aware dress or skirt hems must be at least three inches below the buttocks. Solid colors remain the best clothing option, for interview purposes.

Shoes

Nope, the wardrobe war is not quite over, yet! You can't go to the informal job interview with bare feet! Shoes are important to the informal interview attire. Just like all the other parts of the outfit, your shoes should be clean and free of holes. Do not wear open-toed shoes, sandals, or flip-flops.

Whether you are male or female, black is basic and coordinates well with many colors. Black shoes, a white shirt, and khaki or black pants or skirt leave a clean, crisp, and ready-to-work impression with any potential employer.

Keep It Simple - Keep Focused

Be memorable to the interviewer for your readiness and serious intent on gaining employment. Select your informal interview attire using these simple tips, keep smiling, and keep a positive attitude! Focus on showing your best informal interview self, and get that job!