What to Wear for a Job Interview

Boo!

If you have a job interview lined up, I just want to firstly congratulate you! After hours and hours of research and trying to fit your answers to the word limit, it is always so rewarding to hear some positive news.  Securing that well deserved interview is already a big hurdle, and you don't want your outfit to let you down on the big day. So, have one less thing to worry about by having your outfit interview-appropriate and interview-ready at the very minimum the night before.

This post is written in collaboration with City Calling which is a free career site that matches jobs (in the UK & Ireland) to your personality & skills and you can find more here: Job Vacancies. I have been browsing the website myself the past week and by filling out the profile page a selection of available suitable jobs have been suggested to me. What I like most about the site is that they have articles such as 'How to use LinkedIn to market yourself online', 'Finding the Right Career', and Making a Good Impression On Your First Day which I personally find very insightful. Below are a couple of other articles they have and you can click HERE for more. 

So, onto what to wear! Where to begin? Well, it really depends on what kind of interview you're attending. Have a read of what your interview email/letter says and try to dress accordingly. If it says 'Smart Casual' I would always err on the side of caution by being more formal. There's nothing wrong with being a bit smarter.

Although this post will focus more on formal interview outfits, the most important thing for any type of interview outfit is to ensure that you are comfortable in whatever you wear. You don't want to feel self-conscious, or worry about blisters or your skirt riding up etc. 

CLOTHES

I think it is an essential for all women (and especially for men) to have a tailored suit. Although they can cost more, they really are worth it as you will look very well put together and automatically interview ready. Or at the very least make sure that you try on a couple of suits to get the perfect one(s). As time-consuming as that may be, finding the style that suits your body is a step closer to not having to worry about your interview outfit. Whether you prefer having lapels or not, or have flared, straight legged or cigarette trousers, you want to wear something that enables you to carry yourself with confidence. 

So skirts, pants or dresses? It really is up to you. Choose whatever makes you feel most comfortable and confident. If you worry about your skirt riding up, choose trousers. If you don't want to worry about what shirt to match with your trousers/skirt, choose a suit dress. Never ever choose anything that is far too tight fitting, you want to be able to walk comfortable and most importantly, be able to breathe! 

Typically, formal interview outfits tend to be void of colour, and I would say it is probably best to stay with a more subdued colours. Although I have heard that, for men, it is best to stay away from black suits as they are normally worn at funerals. I'm not sure how true that is but that's something to consider when buying suits. If you do want to add a bit of colour to reflect your personality I would advise something not too in your face, as you want the interviewer to concentrate on what you are saying rather than wondering where you got your bright shirt from. 

I personally tend to go for blues or creams, as an alternate to white or black just because I feel comfortable in those colours and it is just a little different. Also, as I have a tendency to go pink if I am nervous, I have been advised to stay well away from reds or pinks as that will make you look even more red. 

SHOES

Heels or Flats? Again, whatever is comfortable and puts you in the 'interview-zone'. I prefer wearing heels because as a petite, this gives me a little bit of a height boost, and does make me feel more confident. However, if you do choose wear heels you don't want to worry about getting blisters or falling over so make sure they are at a sensible height and are comfortable. If you didn't feel as though you could be creative with your outfit, you could always wear shoes that reflect your personality. But again, be quite subtle and don't wear anything to flash. Finally, you want to make sure that you polish them at least the day before your interview. There's nothing more annoying than a polished outfit being ruined by your shoes. 

ACCESSORIES
Everyone has heard of the phrase less it more, and it couldn't be more true in an interview situation. I am definitely an advocate for wearing your lucky necklace or bracelet etc but make sure that they won't distract you or your interviewer.

I hope you all enjoyed this post! What are your interview fashion essentials? If you are ever unsure about whether your outfit is too risky/informal for a formal interview, always go for a safe option. You have plenty of chances to experiment with various styles when you've secured your job, of course within reason. But to make sure you have one less thing to worry about on the day of your interview, make sure your outfit is on the 'safe' side. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to drop me a comment or an email at lifeasapetite@outlook.com. Before I go, just want to say good luck! :) 

Have a great week everyone! Take care and speak soon. 

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