Congratulations, you landed the
interview! Now - you need to make a great
impression. Are you digging through your closet?
Asking everyone you know what you should wear? What
kind of tie do you put on? What should you do with
your hair? If you're getting differing opinions,
here are some simple guidelines to help - plus two
things not everyone considers but employers do
notice:
1. Dress for the job you
want, not the job you currently have. If the
industry is more formal, dress accordingly. If the
position is a step up from your current one, dress
better than you normally would. Spend some money on
a new suit that would fit your new role. And no
matter what - do your homework. Find out what the
culture is like so you can dress appropriately.
2. Don't try to make a
major statement with your clothes. You want your
personality and qualifications to stand out-not the
funky clothes you're wearing, unless it's a creative
environment where that's more acceptable.
3. It's ok to express your
individuality in some way. If you want to show
your personality with your clothing, wear a scarf,
tie or something else small that expresses it. You
don't want the person interviewing you to be
distracted by a large hat or huge bulky belt buckle.
4. If you aren't sure what
the culture is like for your particular industry,
err on the side of being more professional and
formal than casual. Not all workplaces are as
casual as you might expect these days.
5. You want to wear higher
quality clothes. It makes an impression and we
all know that first impressions are important. If
you don't have a decent suit, go out and buy one;
it'll be worth it. Wearing higher quality clothes
shows that you are willing to invest in your career
and your future. You are dressing for success!
6. Always go to your
interview clean cut. This means hair cut,
shaven, tattoos and piercings covered up tastefully.
The bottom line is you want to look like you made an
effort and are committed to success. The last thing
you want your interviewer thinking is that you just
rolled out of bed. Spend time getting ready and
making sure you look clean cut.
7. Keep makeup and
hairstyles simple and classic. As with your
clothing you don't want your hair or how you did
your makeup to be distracting to the interviewer.
Opt for a subtle natural look.
8. Take a hard look at
yourself in the mirror after you have chosen what
you are going to wear. What's the impression
they're going to get? Step outside of yourself and
think about what you would think when you looked at
yourself for the first time. Is this the impression
you want to make?
9. Two things not everyone
pays attention to but can make a big impression:
your teeth and your nails. If your teeth are not as
white as they could be, or your nails not trimmed
and neat - do something about it. This can give a
bad impression. You want to look completely
professional and put together so pay attention to
every detail.
10. And last but not least,
wear something that makes you feel confident, like
the person who can have that job. When you feel
confident you will express that confidence to
others.
Blast off in your search for
your ideal career! Hallie Crawford is a certified
career coach who can help you find your direction
and identify your ideal career path. To get more
advice on how to successfully make a career
transition, read about Hallie's career transition
book right here: www.flyingsolobook.com.
Hallie Crawford is a
certified career coach who can help you find your
direction and identify your ideal career path.
Hallie is a compelling, humorous and passionate
career speaker recently featured on CNN and Fox
Business News. To learn more about Hallie and
schedule a complimentary consultation visit
www.halliecrawford.com/contact.html.
