How To Dress For A Job Interview

You’ve gone to recruitment agencies, circled job vacancies in newspapers, you’ve called all you contacts, and your CV has been sent out personally, electronically and if you could you would’ve sent it spiritually as well.

Then finally, you get the call, you’re not yet hired but you could be. The job interview is looming.

CV (check), company research (check), mock interview with your bestie (check and check), but now what to wear?

We’ve heard the saying “dress for the job you want”, it’s easier said than done. We all know clothes don’t make the man but they do add to your person. Your outfit should be a reflection of who you are, and in this case it should exude your confidence and abilities to your potential employer. I know what you’re thinking; that’s a lot of pressure on a getup, but that’s what’s expected.

To find out how to dress for the job you want, 99FM’s MYD Smart spoke to stylists, and fashion experts to find out what the best advice is for dressing your career savvy self.

How do you make sure your clothes make the right statement? Fashion stylist, Reinhart Mahalie, says “keeping your identity and having a signature look incorporated will make you feel comfortable and at ease for any job interview. Keep make-up minimal, hair simple, keep it classy, and wear that one piece of accessory or clothing item that can speak volumes about your bubbly personality. Nothing too distracting or playful.”

A job interview is essentially peacocking. It’s you going hey look at me and how amazing I am. But what if your best assets are your curves? Well sister you need to put those away; no low plunging neckline, no mini-skirts, no short pants (yes, not even those “professional” ones that look great on Gwyneth Paltrow). You do not want a sexual harassment suit before you even land the job do you?! But you can still look fierce and accentuate those features.

Fashion Blogger Sean K says a pencil skirt and a well-tailored pants-suit will do just the trick in a tasteful manner. As for thee cleavage area, “try a vest top, tucked into the pants or skirt with a one button tailored jacket” he says.

Gents, seem to have it easier, just slapping on that black suit that you’ve had since University but if you want to avoid disappearing in a sea of grey suits then you need to spice up that old suit and tie.

Fashion designer, Ingo Shanyenge advices to still keep it very plain, not too loud but zing it up with a colorful vibrant pocket-square and tie, “ You want them to say, remember that guy with the interesting tie”. He continues “make sure your pocket-square matches the tie. Make sure they’re made from the same print and fabric”.

So outfit done. What about shoes?

For woman, Mahalie advises on closed shoes always being the safest choice. Which is a win because not only are they comfortable, you don’t even have to go get a Pedi. I mean you are unemployed so save every dollar you can girl.

As for the gents, stay away from sneakers, the safest choice for you would be “brown or black shoes. When it comes to Shoes, black go with everything, but be careful when it comes to brown shoes, although they do work well with a grey, navy, or black suit.” says Shanyenge. He further warns to stay away from “florescent or street funky shoes”, for the corporate interview.

Lastly, don’t forget to wear a smile. Best accessory ever.

Go get ‘em.