If you want to be taken seriously in the job, you need to avoid appearing like a chump and instead convey an image of someone with a keen eye for design. Humans, whether we like it or not, are inherently judgmental individuals who form opinions about others within the first ten to twenty seconds of meeting them. The way you dress makes an impression on everyone you meet, from possible employers and coworkers to new acquaintances and romantic interests.
One of the quickest methods to start cleaning up your image is to give yourself a clothing makeover, whether your goal is to get a raise or promotion, a new job, or to settle down and hunt for a spouse. It doesn’t have to be difficult to make a significant effect on your professional life.
What to wear, how to look presentable, and how to get started quickly are all topics we’ll go through.
Just Keep It Casual
Dressing casually almost never necessitates grabbing your flip-flops and shorts. While “casual clothing” is unlikely to be requested in most corporate contexts, there are a number notable exceptions:
If everyone at work always dresses casually and the atmosphere is relaxed. In this one and only case, the interviewer would specifically request that the candidate not dress formally for the interview.
Whether you’re going to a sporting event or other kind of team building activity, you should dress casually.
Going out with the gang or hitting up a mixer for the 20-something set
It’s important to be prepared when the moment comes to open the wardrobe and choose an outfit. To begin, do what you were told to do by your inviter or contact. As for the second scenario, pants and a polo shirt would be appropriate attire. If the invitation or contact just specifies “casual clothing,” you should do as follows:
Put on some khakis.
Even if you don’t have dress khakis, a well-pressed pair of khakis will do.
Put on a nice polo, golf shirt, or button-down shirt. Throw along a sweater if you’re worried about the temperature.
Use a leather belt.
Shoes and belts should always coordinate. In most cases, the colour brown works well in a relaxed environment.
Put on socks.
Even in an informal context. Socks and trousers of the same hue are a must. Use a pair of blue dress socks in place of khaki if you don’t own any.
Men should not wear any jewellery save a watch. Avoid sporting a running watch or a Rolex or Montana. This or anything much simpler will do just fine. For more relaxed occasions, a watch with a leather strap is an excellent option. If you want to wear a leather band, it should coordinate with your other accessories, such as your shoes and belt.
Keep in mind that there will always be situations that deviate from the norm. I can’t stress enough how strongly you should NOT wear khakis and loafers to your interview with Facebook. Knowing your topic and doing your homework can get you far in any modern job, not just Facebook. If you don’t research the company’s culture and work environment before applying, you’re essentially looking for jobs blindly online (which is a topic for another article).
The Industry Standard for Business Attire
Dinners before job interviews often need business casual attire. You may be instructed to dress more casually for an interview in certain cases. You should use your own discretion, but here are some general rules to follow:
Put on a sharp blazer or sports coat. They need to have a good fit and have two buttons. You should have at least two single-breasted, two-button sports coats in your wardrobe, one black and one blue. Take this wonderful illustration from the Jos. An online bank.
Put on a plain shirt. Always choose with solid hues. You can’t go wrong with white, light blue, or yellow. It’s also OK to wear a shirt with a faint design.
Put on some nice trousers. Use a dark color, such grey or khaki. Both coats are interchangeable in terms of color. Call me or visit your local Jos. A. Bank to find out how to put together a matching set of trousers, shirt, and jacket. Ask for help at a bank.
Dress shoes are required. As a rule, black is superior. If you’re going to be donning the blue blazer, dark brown pants are OK. While many job boards recommend lace-up formal shoes, I like to wear pinch tassel loafers. All options are acceptable in my book; it just comes down to personal preference. The quality, durability, comfort, and professionalism of my Cole Haan dress shoes are why I wear them. Look for comparable models at your neighborhood Payless or other discount shoe store if you’re on a tight budget.
Choose a belt that goes with your shoes. Nothing says “bozo” quite like a black belt and dark brown shoes, so keep this in mind. You should also wear a mahogany belt with mahogany shoes. The belt should also be black if the shoes are black.
Coordinate your jeans and socks. Pairing dark grey trousers with dark grey socks conveys consideration and expertise. Wearing dark khaki trousers with dark khaki socks demonstrates forethought. The last resort is to wear socks that go with your jacket.
While dressing for business, a tie is not required. Business casual interviews need a tie. A tie is not required if you are attending a meal prior to an interview. Keep your motifs understated with stripes and polka dots. Consult a salesperson at Jos. Send me a photo of the necktie through email or deposit it at a bank.
Men should not wear any jewellery save a watch. Avoid sporting a running watch or a Rolex or Montana. This or anything much simpler will do just fine. (I have a Fossil) If you decide for a leather band watch, it should go with your belt and shoes.
Remove any jewellery, including earrings, and cover any visible tattoos.
I’ll end this portion of the piece with the same disclaimer that I ended the casual segment with. Become familiar with the culture. I know I’m going to bore you with that statement when I repeat it in each of our business and career guides, but hear me out. I have my reasons for saying so.
Get the Guy Attitude in the Workplace
The real interview is where you want to show off your best professional self. Men are expected to dress formally for work. Some rules to live by are as follows.
Put on a suit that fits well, looks well, and isn’t too flamboyant. Suit colors often recommended include black, navy, or dark grey. I still endorse their suggestions. Tell the Jos. A. Bank tailor if you need to start over with your outfit. A worker at a bank should own two suits, one of each hue. You want them customized such that they fit you like a glove. I like to wear medium break, pleated pants with a cuff. The preferred flat-front, no-cuff, medium-break style is favored by fashion manuals. Formatting is totally up to you. **The break is the crease across the front of your trouser leg caused by your pants falling into your shoes, as explained by Askmen.com.
Put on a plain shirt. Always choose with solid hues. You can’t go wrong with white, light blue, or yellow. It’s also OK to wear a shirt with a faint design.
A tie is expected as part of proper business attire. When you finally get that job, you may let your true colors show by donning a tie (if you have to wear one at all). But, a tie shouldn’t draw attention to itself or serve as a political statement during an interview. Keep your motifs understated with stripes and polka dots. Consult a salesperson at Jos. Send me a photo of the necktie through email or deposit it at a bank.
Dress shoes are required. As a rule, black is superior. If you’re going to be donning the dark blue suit, dark brown shoes are OK. Although though many job boards like lace-up formal shoes, I always wear pinch tassel loafers.
Choose a belt that goes with your shoes. The belt should also be black if the shoes are black.
Wear socks that complement the color of your outfit. When in doubt, pair dark blue socks with brown shoes or black socks with black shoes.
Men should not wear any jewellery save a watch. Avoid sporting a running watch or a Rolex or Montana. You should never dress in a way that will make the interviewer feel uncomfortable.
Remove any jewellery, including earrings, and cover any visible tattoos.
Purge Yourself
Get a haircut, first and foremost. If you’re anything like me, you have extremely specific preferences when it comes to how your hair should appear.
One possible strategy is to visit a trusted barber or salon the day before an interview and get a new haircut done. Make sure they trim the moustache and neck. Your hair should be styled such that it falls over your eyebrows in the front and your ears in the back.
If you don’t have a regular barber or salon, your second best bet is to get a haircut a week before the interview. If they mess up, at least your hair will have a week to recover and appear more normal. Get your sideburns and neckline trimmed at the salon or barbershop the day before.
You should also have your nails done the day before an interview. It’s true; I mean it. No one wants to sit through an interview with someone whose nails are too long and dirty. Get some nail clippers from a shop if you don’t already have them.
