Dress to Impress: A 6-Point Guide for an Interview

THE FIRST 60 seconds of a job interview can decide your future in an organization. In these 60 seconds you’re scanned from head to toe by the interview panel, which forms an early impression on the basis of your appearance and self- confidence. Many of us like to carry our personal style to the interview board. This is a big mistake that must be avoided at all costs.

“Your dress and appearance are part of the overall package. Inappropriate dressing can change the opinion of an interviewer,” says Patrick David, executive vice- president, global human resources strategy, Hinduja Global Solutions.

Here are some important tips that will make those first 60 seconds work in your favour:

1. Do a background check of the organisation where you’re applying for a job. It will make you understand the job profile and help you dress up accordingly.

For instance, if you’re going for a 9 to 5 job, a pin- striped shirt with formal trousers will do. For a marketing job, go for a suit with a matching tie. “ If it’s an advertising job, you can relax a bit and wear something casual,” says celebrity stylist Rishi Raj. That doesn’t mean you’ll wear a pair of low- hung jeans with a tattered T- shirt.

2. Coco Chanel had said, when in doubt, overdress. That doesn’t hold true for job interviews. Keep your style simple with basic clothes. Women can try salwar- kameez – it always works in favour of them; men can wear a pair of trousers with a shirt. For luxury brands, it’s a different ball game.

“We expect our sales managers to be dressed in westerns. The women have to be dressed formally in business suits,” says a spokesperson for Genesis Luxury’s human capital division. “Certain luxury brands even have a dress code.”

Grooming Musts for an Interview!

1. Don’t overwhelm the person interviewing you with too many layers of clothes or tacky jewellery.

2. Avoid wearing black and navy blue suits; after all, you’re not going to some high-school prom party.

3. You’re bound to be nervous before the interview, so don’t make it worse for yourself by tripping on a sari.

4. It’s better to avoid bright-coloured shirts, trousers and ties. Your style must not distract the interviewer.

5. Women can wear a waistcoat over their shirts, if they don’t wish to make their look completely formal.

6. Make sure your footwear isn’t noisy. It will convey the wrong impression to the interview board.

3. Women must not wear too many accessories – it can be distracting. You don’t want the panel to discuss your jewellery and not your credentials. Also, make sure your accessories don’t make too much noise. “A pair of pearls for the ears and a simple gold chain will do,” says Raj. Go for silver jewellery or steel, which isn’t too big in size. You must avoid wearing too many bangles and rings. These may put off the interviewer.

4. If you haven’t worn a sari before and aren’t too comfortable in one, avoid it. A kurta with churidar looks best, but keep away from floral prints. “Bandhej looks ghastly; avoid it,” says Raj. Keep it simple with a border running through the base and on the sleeves. Do stick to neutral colours and happier shades such as pink, lemon, or coffee. “Saris and salwar suits should remain classically formal,” advises David.

“Depending on the culture of the organisation, which may be sometimes difficult for an interviewee to assess, a business suit is appropriate.”

5. Men who like wearing suits should stick to a woollen- mix as it falls better. Don’t go for linen as it crushes badly.

Avoid wearing black and navy blue suits; after all, you’re not going to some high- school prom party. Match your tie with the print on your shirt, if you fail to work out the colour combination. “If there are thin stripes on your shirt, your tie should have bolder stripes,” says Raj.

Also, make sure your shirt is wrinkle free and doesn’t have any synthetic in it.

In the hospitality business, the rules are different. Says Sandeep Lakra, human resource head, ITC Maurya: “We prefer candidates who come for executive or managerial positions, or front office and marketing opening, to come in business suits. For someone seeking a junior position, or vying for engineering and administration posts, a smart shirt and trousers will do.”

6. Stick to clean leather shoes with no wrinkles. If you’re short, don’t wear shoes with pointed toes as these will make you look shorter. Go for tapered trousers to add height. Women should go for short heels, not going above twoinches.

These add height and give you a good gait. If you’re wearing Indian, you can also take a chance with flats – something like a Kolhapuri will look good.