Dress for Success

Finding your own professional style can be a really fun and interesting experience that helps you discover more about yourself. On the contrary, for others this may quickly become a daunting task spiralling into a world of confusion. Either way how you dress is an essential step to ensure that you are giving off a good vibes and showing that you take yourself seriously. The main focus is on making sure that you feel comfortable and confident in what you are wearing so that others will show you respect and want to listen to you.

Let’s say that you walk into an interview for a position at a bank. You’re currently wearing ripped jeans, your favourite baseball cap and an oversized hoodie. You probably were trying to dress for comfort but truthfully they won’t be able to look past your attire. To them you look unprepared, unprofessional and…..a slob! Remember that you are marketing the most important product there is, yourself. It’s critical that you make the effort to dress properly for the job that you are seeking, it won’t necessarily get you the job but it will give you a competitive advantage and a positive first impression. Don't forget that first impressions are critical and will be remembered forever!

So how exactly should you dress?  Conservative outfits are always the safest routes, but you should also try to investigate your prospective employer so that what you’re wearing will reflect the company and help you fit in. To find out what the dress code is you could even call the Human Resources office where you are interviewing and simply ask!

You don’t need to run out of the house and spend your life savings on the “right” clothes for interviewing. You should make sure that you have three well put together outfits to get you started, as you attend more interviews or get accepted for a job you will learn more about what items fit in your wardrobe. On a side note hygiene in general plays a big role in dressing for success, below are some things that you should make sure you have:

·         No body odor

·         Nothing in your mouth including candy or gum

·         Clean and polished shoes

·         Well- groomed hair

·         Fingernails are trimmed and clean

·         Minimal perfume or cologne

·         No body piercings that are beyond conservative

·         Well-brushed teeth and fresh breath

Finally, don’t forget to have a final look of yourself in the mirror before the big interview!

Below is a video that highlights what you should avoid when making your interview attire and helping you prepare yourself so you can walk in looking and feeling confident.