Professional Dress

By: Teri Grimes

One of the most exciting things about getting a real job is the awesome fact that for most offices you’ll probably have to start dressing up in business casual clothes every day. This is the main reason that my Christmas presents are all going to be dress pants and cute tops this year as I prepare to move out in to the work force hopefully by January. With the exception of casual Fridays, I’m basically going to just need a whole new wardrobe. However, clothes for the workweek are very different than the clothes that you should wear to an interview for the job you want. For interviews, you have to keep in mind that you don’t have the job yet, so it’s your responsibility to look as professional as possible. Here are some tips for things to wear/not to wear to an interview:

-       Although pant suits for women are perfectly acceptable, skirt suits just help an applicant stand out even more and differentiates you from the men who are applying for the job that may be dressed similarly.

-       Suits should be black, dark blue, or very dark grey and shouldn’t have a distracting pattern on them.

-       For girls, your hair should be pulled back away from your face or half up if you prefer to wear it down. When you’re nervous you may not realize that you’re playing with your hair, but it can be distracting for recruiters.

-       Keep jewelry to a minimum. Big blingy pieces can get distracting.

-       If you get asked back for a second interview, pay attention to what the people around you are wearing. Again, you don’t have the job yet, so you need to be dressed up but it does help to note the kinds of things that other people who already work there wear.

-       Be showered, smelling good but not overpowering, with freshly pressed garments.

Keep in mind that all of these tips can vary by the type of position that you’re applying for. Be sure to know the company, and know what’s acceptable in those offices. For more information on business dress, check out LACD on Pinterest (@ LiberalArts CareerDevelopment).