If you wear the same thing to every job interview you go out on, there may be a reason why you’re not getting an offer. While a basic black pencil skirt or a gray suit will work for most interviews, you should actually put some thought into the attire you don when you head into a conversation with a hiring manager.
Why does your outfit matter?
Company culture is becoming increasingly important when it comes to an employee’s long-term happiness within that organization. As a result, hiring managers are becoming more in tune with how potential hires will blend in with the culture that currently exists within that group.
One way for them to get a sense of this is by checking out the ensemble you wear to the interview. If the organization is very buttoned up and you show up with purple streaks in your hair and bright green nail polish, they may begin to question whether you’ll fit in well there. On the other hand, if the business is full of creative types and you show up in a power suit, they may worry that you’ll feel uncomfortable should you land the job.
So how do you pick your outfit properly?
In order to choose the perfect outfit for your interview, you’ll need to spend a little time researching the culture within that organization. What are the people who work there like? What do they wear to work each day? What values matter to that company? What are the goals of that business? When you have a sense of what that brand is all about, you can plan your outfit accordingly, thus illustrating to the hiring manager that you’d be a good cultural fit.
Regardless of whether or not you’re interviewing for a position in the fashion industry, you want to make sure that your wardrobe is up-to-date. If your outfit is clearly from decades past, it can be off-putting to a hiring manager, and may make you seem out of touch. You don’t have to shell out hundreds of dollars in order to look great when you go out for a job. Even inexpensive pieces can look sleek when tailored properly and paired with subtle accessories like a nice watch or an elegant necklace for women.
While your skills and experience ultimately determine whether you get an offer, you might be surprised to learn that the outfit you wear to an interview truly can shape a hiring manager’s impression of you. Put some effort and thought into your attire and you’ll send the right message to the person making decisions about bringing new talent on board.
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