You’re Hired.

 

By: Victoria Guadarrama

As if finishing college wasn’t stressful enough, most college seniors are facing another daunting task: the job interview.

Most soon-to-be graduates on the job hunt know the basics of an interview. You need to know the employer, understand the job description, have a perfected resume, and hope that your skills and education will get you into the working world.

Today, you need to do everything you can to make yourself stand out for a job interview. Starting with what you wear. Your wardrobe is the first thing that will impress your potential employer, and with a larger number of college graduates hitting the job market, wardrobe is a sure-fire way to leave a strong impression.

Lisa Brockhoff Fitzsimmons is the associate director of Creighton University’s Career Center and has assisted students in prepping for interviews throughout her career. She can assist students with resumes, searching for jobs and give them outfit tips for the increasingly competitive job market.

“The job market has always been competitive.” said Fitzsimmons,”Applying for a full-time position isn’t like applying for a part-time job at Old Chicago. It takes three to nine months to find a job and there are many qualified candidates for every position. The application process can be a slow and lengthy process and students need to be persistent and not get discouraged. Most individuals don’t know how to properly look for a job.”

Although you might meet all the skills and qualifications for your dream job, interviewers need to see something that is going to make you stay in their minds. Regardless of whether you are searching for a job in a corporate environment like finance or accounting or possibly an artistic career, the key to dressing for an interview is keeping it conservative and professional without losing character.

“Not dressing professionally, or understanding professional dress, is one of the biggest mistakes students are making today. If you want to set yourself apart from other students dress professionally,” said Fitzsimmons.

For men, this task is fairly simple. Throw on a suit, shape up your hair, do your research for the company, head out the door and hope for the best. Although it is important for the shirt to match the suit and the socks to match the shoes, a man on an interview can always fall back on wearing a well tailored suit. For women, prepping for the interview is not as simple. They all face the daunting task of finding the balance between competent and chic.

A misconception that most women face in preparing for an interview is the need to wear a suit to every interview. Although it is the safest choice for a more conservative position, a suit can make you blend in with the crowd. In today’s awareness of style, a conservative dress that is appropriate in length can be pared with a blazer for a trendy look that will help you stand out from the other candidates.

“Women could wear a pant suit which would be a little more casual, but still very professional. “said Fitzsimmons,”It demonstrates your professionalism and that you’re taking the process seriously.  It’s always better to be over dressed than under dressed.”

Most importantly, you need to keep in mind your audience while dressing for an interview. Fashionista and creator of blog Sequined Silver Lining , Natalie Navis, shares her knowledge on dressing for the occasion, with a little flair.

“When deciding what to wear to an interview the most important aspect is to take into consideration what type of job you are interviewing for. If it’s a more traditional job, you’ll want to keep your attire conservative. If it’s a more creative profession, you can get away with something a little less traditional. Either way, you can certainly infuse your own style and personality into your look.” Navis said,

“If you are interviewing for a job at a law firm, which is an example of a more traditional career, a suit is a must. You’ll want your suit to be very well-tailored, above all else. You can’t go wrong with a crisp black suit in a quality fabric. You can personalize your suit by pairing with a top, shoes, and accessories of your choice. Remember to keep these on the classic side, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be stylish at the same time.”

Rocio Lozano, a senior at Texas A&M University, has already begun the interviewing process, and has an interview outfit that she is confident will land her the job of her dreams.

“I always wear a suit to my interviews, but not just any suit: a power suit.” said Lozano, “ A black suit with a bright pop of color in the shirt is my go-to outfit. I pair that with a set of conservative heels and I’m ready to show them what I got.”

A staple that every woman on the job hunt should have is a blazer. A perfectly tailored blazer is a valuable key in the workplace, as well as the in the interview process. Most blazers can be bought in a number of colors, and can be paired with a dress, trousers, or skirt. To make yourself stand out from the crowd, trade a black pencil skirt for a camel color. The color is not only sophisticated, but out o f the ordinary.

A common mistake most new graduate women make is dressing too provocatively. Leave anything that hits higher than just above the knee at home, and keep it simple with colors that are fairly neutral. No low-cut blouses or tops should be worn. Short and sexy is simply not professional.

An item most women forget about while prepping their job interview outfit is the last thing they put on: shoes. Shoes are tricky with interviews because of a list of standards. The shoes must be conservative and have a small to medium heel. Although neutral colors would keep the interview outfit safe, a pop of color could be the difference between blending in and getting noticed.

Lastly, you cannot neglect your hair. For men, it is important to have a fresh haircut that makes you look professional. For women, sleek is key. Nothing to out of the ordinary or over the top can be done with your hair on interview day. Simple and neat is always the best option.

Now that you have an interview outfit that will get you noticed, it is time to add the style extras that will get you the job. When if comes to accessories, sophisticated is key. A classic watch, and brooch can add a little something extra to you make you stand out.

“Accessories should be small, simple and limited.“ said Fitzsimmons, “Women should only wear one ring on each hand, small earrings  and only one in each ear, and a simple necklace.”

As for your technology, keep it far away. Phones should be left in your car, or on silent tucked away in a purse or briefcase.

“Women can carry a small professional purse and/or brief case and may bring professional folder.  These items are kept with you at all times and placed on the floor next to your chair while interviewing.” said Fitzsimmons,” It’s not likely you’ll need a briefcase unless your bringing several documents. A purse and the folder are your best bet.”

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Congratulations! You did it. You have your perfect interview outfit, you are ready to conquer the working world. However, the clothing dilemma does not end at the interview process. Once you’ve landed the job, you need to keep up the impression your first made.

The best choice is to dress professionally until you get a feel of the dress code in the office.

“Watch what others wear to work to understand the culture. Once again, be careful that you’re not too casual. People who want to get ahead should dress for the job they want, not the job they have.  Clothes worn to work are an investment and you should take it seriously. Always dress up for important meetings or presentations.” said Creighton professional Fitzsimmons.

Most offices will also have a casual Friday. However, the term “casual,” cannot be taken to lightly.

“Casual Friday doesn’t mean it’s your invitation to wear whatever you want.  You should still look professional. Be sure to have a clear understanding of what “casual Fridays” means,” said Fitzsimmons,” You never know when an important meeting will arise or a client might stop in, and don’t want to have to make excuses for your work attire.  Employees will often wear a shirt that has their company’s logo on it for casual Fridays.”

If ever in doubt about what to wear in the workplace, make sure to read up on the company guidelines. If you’re still not sure what to wear, visit the organization and watch employees coming in and out of the office to see what they are wearing. It might help you make decisions like skirt or slacks, blouse or knit top, or how formally you should dress on an everyday basis.