How To Dress For A Personal Interview

I know, a lot of you job seekers out there might think that wardrobe issues should be the least of your concerns right now, but let me clue you in on something:  when you finally do get “the call,” the one where a hiring manager wants to meet with you for a personal interview, they’ll want to schedule a face-to-face as soon as possible.  You won’t have time to go out and buy a new suit and have it altered, so here’s some sartorial food for thought to help you stay one step ahead of the game!

Ladies, I’m sorry but today’s post is just for the guys, but don’t be so quick to file a discrimination complaint with the EEO office!  That’s only because I have no idea how to describe what women should wear, and all of you should probably be thankful that I’m honest enough to admit it.  My best advice?  Go to TJ Maxx or Marshalls, pick something off the rack from the “Business/Professional” section, and wear it with confidence.

Fellas, take a moment to be thankful for your gender, because professional dress for males is a lot simpler.  Every man should own at least one suit anyway, and it’s fine if it’s from a generic designer label.  Stick with some solid color, either blue, grey, or black, and get it altered to fit you as soon as you buy it.  Have a cleaner press it out, then keep it neatly hung in your closet under a plastic storage cover until you get that dream job interview, or until somebody in your family dies.

Even though most federal offices have adopted a “business casual” dress code for men which involves a collared shirt and khakis, the job seeker should always take this dress code up a notch.  It’s okay to look a little overdressed, unless of course you show up in a tuxedo and tails.  Remember, the extra effort that you put into dressing for an interview will show that you actually want the job, and will make a manager consider how much effort you’ll put into your work once hired.

Other than that, there’s just a few more general rules to follow when you’re outfitting yourself to make that great first impression:

-Stick with solid color, long-sleeve dress shirts under your jacket.  Avoid trendy patterns or colors, no matter how much you look good in pink.  And let’s face it: you can’t go wrong with a boring white shirt.

-Your dress shoes should have laces.  Period.

-Shave, dude.  Lose the beard, even if it’s just stylish stubble.  Ditch the jewelry as well, unless it’s a watch or a wedding ring.   

Look guys, here’s the real deal:  most government offices have liberal dress codes, and there’ll be a lot of leeway for you to accessorize once you’re onboard and collecting a paycheck.  But during a job interview, the key is to avoid creating any kind of negative impressions that might keep a manager from giving you the best possible recommendation.  Remember, if you get called for an interview, it’s because the government is looking for an excuse to hire you.  At this late stage in the process, you shouldn’t give them any reason not to!