Appropriate Dress
Companies typically do not hire candidates who do not know how to dress appropriately.
We recommend conservative business attire for interviewing. In your dress you are demonstrating self-respect, your respect for the company and for the interview opportunity, and your ability to dress appropriately in social and business situations. You are demonstrating that you are ready for and want work in a professional environment.
Tips for appropriate interview dress:
Wear a dark suit, preferably a coat and pants or skirt that match, that were bought together as a suit. Wear the suit with a white or light colored tailored shirt.
Men should wear a tie. Blue and red is an acceptable choice.
Women should wear a knee length skirt, not pants, with stockings and whole shoes (no open toes or sling backs) that are conservative pumps or low heels.
All candidates should wear minimal jewelry: a wedding ring or class ring for men is acceptable, similar rings are acceptable for women. One pair of earrings for women, no earrings for men.
No visible body piercing. This includes pierced tongues. The exception is a single pair of small earrings for women.
No visible tattoos.
Hair should be well cut, freshly brushed, and not flamboyant.
No backpacks in combination with the suit.
Any overcoat should be business professional not Saturday casual. Hang it up somewhere, do not carry it into the interview.
It does not matter if the interviewer is in business casual. You should be in business professional.
Sometimes companies invite students for a second interview or a mixer and specify "business casual." It is extremely important in that situation that you use contacts within the company to determine just what "business casual" means to a specific company. Standards vary a great deal from company to company.
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This page was last updated Thursday, 15-May-2008 16:16:26 EDT.
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