How to get a job (or not)

[Synobun]

I don't have any "interviewing clothes" and I kind of think that's part of my problem on getting a better job. Is there any set standard for an interviewing clothes that would help, especially a set that would say to the interviewer "hire me! I'm the best you have".

General rule of thumb is that clothes can break an interview but never make an interview. Upper-level jobs should see use of a tailored suit, everything else can do with business casual. My go-to before my health took another nose-dive was a black dress shirt with black khakis. Tie optional; if you can pull it off, do it, if you can't, no big deal. The benefit of a business casual setup is that it fits in almost every occupation, even those of blue collar origin. It's also simple and never looks bad if properly fitted.

This is based on west-coast businesses, however. I know the east coast has a stronger "suit culture". I've found that pulling off a business casual interview wardrobe is far easier than trying to pull off a suit wardrobe on both coasts, but mileage may vary. I've never interviewed with a big-time firm on the east coast, for example.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Visit the company or type of company where you want to work before you interview to see how people dress. Copy them for the interview unless they are very casual, then step it up a notch or two.

Basic interview duds would be:

dress slacks (dark grey, black, khaki)
dress shirt (white or pin striped)
socks appropriate for office work (not thick wool ones you wear when hiking; not white)
black or brown shoes (not sandals or running shoes)
maybe a tie (one that "goes with" the shirt)
Attractive belt (technically it should match your shoes)
a sport jacket or blue blazer

You clothes should fit nicely and you should appear comfortable in them. The clothes should all work together to make an attractive "outfit" that doesn't appear to have been thrown together for the interview out of loose ends and borrowed items. In an interview it is pretty easy to tell if the candidate is wearing a tie for the first time in months or years. Wrong sized shirts or jackets are also easy to spot. Comb your hair, don't use cologne or other smelly stuff. Your fingernails should be neat and clean.

For some companies you might need everything listed; for others, you might get away without the jacket or tie. Dressing badly will count against you; dressing appropriately will be either neutral or add to your score.

 

[bhavv]

What's wrong with white shoes and trousers with a black shirt?

I WANT TO BE DIFFERENT!

 

[Birdjaguar]

If you are going to step outside the dress norms of the company where you want to work, you better have impeccable skills and experience. "Look at me" personalities are generally not team players. I tend to put them in the category of "all sizzle and no steak".

 

[illram]

Or "all hat no cattle."

Interviewing is sadly a superficial business. You've got to play the game.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Or "all hat no cattle."

Interviewing is sadly a superficial business. You've got to play the game.

:thumbsup;

Yes it is.

 

[bhavv]

If you are going to step outside the dress norms of the company where you want to work, you better have impeccable skills and experience. "Look at me" personalities are generally not team players. I tend to put them in the category of "all sizzle and no steak".

But I have no idea what the dress norms of the company are when attending an interview. If its summer, I don't dress head to toe in black. This has nothing to do with personality, rather that I found sand suede shoes for cheap and will wear them in sunny weather.

According to my job agency who will be providing my references, I am very well presented, well groomed / neat and have great speaking and team abilities, despite wearing white trousers / shoes in the insanely hot summer months.

 

[Birdjaguar]

But I have no idea what the dress norms of the company are when attending an interview. If its summer, I don't dress head to toe in black. This has nothing to do with personality, rather that I found sand suede shoes for cheap and will wear them in sunny weather.

According to my job agency who will be providing my references, I am very well presented, well groomed / neat and have great speaking and team abilities, despite wearing white trousers / shoes in the insanely hot summer months.

I am only familiar with US standards. I would say that if you can, always visit a company prior to having the interview even if you just sit in the parking lot and watch who goes in and out and what they are wearing. It should be part of your homework.

 

[bhavv]

Not really. You don't have to wear a companies dress code to an interview, only after starting work there.

 

[Birdjaguar]

You have missed my point. If your attire during an interview is similar to what employees are expected to wear to work, then they will notice that you understand their dress code and perhaps look more favorably on you. You may well appear more professional than if you dress differently. You also remove the chance that someone on the interview team will score you negative on appearance and lessen the chance of an offer.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Birdjaguar is right, you should assume that you will be expected to wear 'business casual' at a very minimum.

You do want to stand out during your interview but you don't want to stand out because of the way you are dressed. It will not go over well, as has been said.

 

[BvBPL]

If the workers at a job wear polos and chinos in the office, does that mean you should wear the same at an interview? Hell no!

You want to put your best foot forward and that means dressing in a professional manner, ie a suit and tie.

The suit and tie is the standard for an interview. Hiring managers expect and anticipate you will wear that. That actually makes it easier for you because you don't need to fret over what to wear each interview. You put together one outfit that you can wear to multiple companies. Even when you get a follow up interview with a company all you need to change is the tie.

A few companies would rather you dress down a bit. However unless you have explicit direction on that never assume that you should do so. As someone said, you don't want anyone to ding you for your clothes.

Even if you know you should wear something more casual, it doesn't hurt to class it up a bit. If they say business casual then slacks, an Oxford, and a sport coat with no tie is the way to go.

 

[Flying Pig]

You want to be slightly smarter than the workers, perhaps. However, the sort of company boss who sets a t-shirt and jeans dress code might look at somebody turning up to his interview in a suit as an embodiment of the pretentious stuck-in-the-mud culture that he's trying to avoid.

 

[bhavv]

Yep. I will never attend an interview wearing a suit and tie, mainly since I'm not paying for them. Shirt without a tie and non black trousers / shoes, either sand in spring / summer, or brown in autumn / winter.

 

[BvBPL]

Your interview suit doubles as your wedding and funeral suit.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

You want to be slightly smarter than the workers, perhaps. However, the sort of company boss who sets a t-shirt and jeans dress code might look at somebody turning up to his interview in a suit as an embodiment of the pretentious stuck-in-the-mud culture that he's trying to avoid.

This. That's how a company I recently worked at was - they had no dress code and would make fun of people who dressed up, even though it is very much a white-collar (type of) company.

You should know the company you are interviewing for well enough to know the dress code. But I didn't bring the above example because it's so bloody rare even today.

 

[bhavv]

Your interview suit doubles as your wedding and funeral suit.

But I don't go to weddings or funerals. And if I did I would wear the worst clothes I possibly could to them.

 

[Flying Pig]

Yep. I will never attend an interview wearing a suit and tie, mainly since I'm not paying for them. Shirt without a tie and non black trousers / shoes, either sand in spring / summer, or brown in autumn / winter.

I suppose that's an excellent way of making sure that you won't end up working at a company you can't stand.

 

[bhavv]

Does working on a front of store customer service desk and as a greeter at the store entrance count as receptionist work experience?

I found a suitable vacancy that was just listed over the weekend at a nearby college for a receptionist that I want to apply for, but previous receptionist and customer service experience is an essential criteria.

 

[brennan]

If you were first point of contact with customers then yes.

Educational establishments usually have high expectations. Good luck.