Authors: Ellen Gordon Reeves
Tags: #Non-Fiction, #Self Help
Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview?: A Crash Course in Finding, Landing, and Keeping Your First Real Job (29 page)
Every story you tell should present you as the hero or heroine. If part of a story might reflect negatively on you or someone else, omit it.
As in dating and mating, there is a strong “pheromonal” component to interviewing. It’s not just about what you say, it’s about what you look, sound, feel—see Get a Grip, page 157—and yes, smell like.
I don’t want to make you paranoid, but I do want you to face the facts. The first impression you make can determine your fate. Appearance is an
enormous factor in the interviewer’s overall perception of you, so a professional outfit and demeanor are essential to getting hired. What you are saying when you present yourself in an interview is, “This is as good as it gets. This is the best me you will ever see. I can’t look or sound more professional than this.” Think first date. The little details count. If you have a stain on your clothes, an interviewer might assume that you’ll smudge and spill on letters you are sending out in his name. A missing button, unironed shirt, or drooping hem might indicate sloppiness, laziness, or inattention to detail. Is this what you want someone to think about you before you’ve even started talking?
If you have a stain on your clothes, an interviewer might assume that you’ll smudge and spill on letters you are sending out in his name. A missing button, unironed shirt, or drooping hem might indicate sloppiness, laziness, or inattention to detail.
When I graduated from college, my mother suggested I buy a suit. I said I didn’t want any job that would require me to wear a suit, but she wisely said I should get one for interviews anyway. I bought a gray pinstriped Calvin Klein number with a tight skirt and big shoulder pads. (It was 1983.) Underneath I wore a red silk blouse with cutouts in the front; a guy friend told me it could burn a barn. I didn’t know what he meant. When I found out, I switched to a basic white button-down. Now I know not to wear barn burners to interviews, and I suggest you don’t either. Err on the side of being conservative, unless you’re applying for a job in fashion or another creative industry.
There are some job interviews to which it wouldn’t be appropriate to wear a standard suit. Still, don’t make the mistake of thinking that you should wear what the company’s current employees wear to work every day.
While I would never claim to be fashion-forward or to dictate what should be in your closet, I can at least tell you what’s appropriate to wear to an interview in general. When I work with recent graduates, I hold a volunteer “Dress ’Em Up and Dress ’Em Down” session; they wear their proposed interview outfits, and I offer forthright reactions. I suggest you set up such a session with a close friend or relative whose sense of professionalism you admire. (But this is
not
a job for a mentor or that guy you met in an informational interview—that would be a little too close for comfort.)
The key thing to remember is: You don’t work there yet. Interview attire is generally more formal than everyday office-wear. That means different
things to different companies—small nonprofits may not be as formal as law firms—but you should be dressing for business. If the company has “casual Fridays” and your interview happens to fall on one, do not dress casually. You may feel self-conscious walking around in a suit when everyone else is in khakis and polo shirts, but believe me, you won’t regret it. It’s always better to be too dressed-up than not dressed-up enough.
MAKE SURE IT FITS
There’s nothing like an ill-fitting suit to give the impression that someone just doesn’t have it together. Don’t go to all the trouble of shopping around for new interview clothes only to ruin the effect with an awkward fit.
Men’s jacket sleeves should hit at the wrist bone, with shirt cuffs extending a half-inch beyond that; trouser cuffs should break over a third of the length of the shoe in front, brushing the top of the heel in back. Jacket shoulder seams shouldn’t extend too far beyond the shoulder line, but you want to make sure you have mobility; lift your arms up over your head in the dressing room to check out your range of motion.
Women, make sure your blouses aren’t too tight; look out for that telltale gap between the buttons at chest level. (And it goes without saying: make sure you have adequate coverage up top—no cleavage at the interview!) If you’re buying a suit as a whole, make sure both parts fit and flatter. Many women are larger on the bottom than on top or vice versa; if that’s the case for you, shop for separates or have things altered to fit.
Buy your outfit far enough in advance to have things tailored if necessary. It shouldn’t cost very much to have a pair of pants shortened, but know that restructuring a jacket
can
be costly, especially when work on the shoulders is involved.
One last note, more for your comfort than for your appearance: Wear new shoes around the house until they’re broken in. You don’t want to be limping into the interview room.
Rules of thumb: No shorts, flip-flops, sneakers, noisy clogs, or overly high heels. Make sure your look is seasonally appropriate; don’t wear wool in the spring or summer, or summery clothes in fall or winter. In the
summer, when air-conditioning is likely, make sure you bring a professional-looking jacket or sweater—don’t ruin your professional look with a ratty cardigan.
Watch out for status-screaming high-end accessories, especially in nonprofit and lower-paying industries. I find it hard to take a salary negotiation seriously when a young candidate is sporting a $500 purse and an Hermès scarf; it makes me feel that the extra $1,000 I could offer won’t really matter.
In general, men should wear suits and conservative ties (no joke or “cute” ties worn as conversation starters) with brown or black shoes and kneesocks. Shoes should look new—no scuffs or tattered laces; polish the shoes if they’re leather, brush them if they’re suede. Under the suit, only a nice button-down shirt will do—no turtlenecks or sweater-vests.
If the interview room is hot, men shouldn’t take off their jackets unless invited. If you’re really dying, you may casually ask, “Do you mind if I take off my jacket?” (But keep it on if you think you may have sweat through your shirt; that’s a big interview no-no.) Make sure your shirt is clean and pressed and can bear public scrutiny; no underarm stains or holes.
Q. May I wear the same suit or outfit to the second interview? I can only afford one until I get a job.
A.
If you truly can’t afford anything else, of course; but make sure everything is clean and pressed. If you’ve got a limited wardrobe and can’t dry-clean and press clothes between interviews, you may want to invest in a personal steamer. Buy a lint brush. If possible, vary accessories: a shirt or tie for men, a blouse, scarf, or jewelry for women.
Q. Can I wear whatever kind of jewelry I want?
A.
I am not a fan of jewelry for men: no rings, bracelets, necklaces, or lapel pins. Discreet cuff links are fine.
For women, jewelry should be minimal. Don’t wear anything too busy or noisy: reams of chains, dozens of bracelets, rings on every finger. On the other hand, an interesting piece can be a conversation starter. One woman interviewing to be my assistant had on a distinctive bracelet carved with polar bears. I asked her about it, and we were off and running. Many women tend to pull out the pearl earrings or necklaces for job interviews, but there’s no need if that’s not your style.
Do reexamine your everyday jewelry, especially anything on an old string, ribbon, or cord. Dirty rope bracelets do not scream “professional.”
Q. I’m uncomfortable wearing contacts. Is it okay to wear my glasses to the interview?
A.
Of course, as long as they’re clean and in good shape. (Make sure you don’t fiddle with them, though.)
Oh, and if you’re wearing sunglasses on the way to the interview, don’t push them up onto your head or clip them to your clothes. You’re at an interview, not a baseball game.
Q. How should I wear my hair?
A.
Your hair should be clean but not wet, and you should invest in a good haircut, but not too close to the interview; if you end up disliking the cut you get, you don’t want to look uncomfortable and unhappy. Whether you’re male or female, your hair should not hang in your face or eyes. If you have long hair and tend to chew it or play with it and haven’t gotten rid of that habit in time for the interview (and you should definitely get rid of the habit), tie it back or up. If you dye your hair, make sure your roots aren’t showing. If you have a dandruff problem, now is the time to try to clear it up; make sure you brush off your clothes, especially dark suits, before meeting an interviewer.
No extreme hairdos, bobby pins sticking out, hats, bandannas, or other headgear unless for religious or cultural traditions.
Men:
Be clean-shaven; if you have a beard or moustache, make sure it’s impeccably clean and trimmed. Excessive nose or ear hair needs to be dealt with.
Q. It’s the day of my interview and I have a bloody nose/black eye/horrible rash/fever/migraine/allergic reaction. What do I do?
A.
If you really can’t stop a bloody nose or cover up a rash or black eye, try to reschedule. Same goes if you’re sick and can’t present yourself well or risk infecting others—reschedule with as much notice as possible. Call the morning of and explain briefly, but say no more than you need to.
As for unsightly rashes: Do the best you can. The same goes for chapped lips, cuts, bruises, shaving accidents, pimples, and so on. Don’t show up bleeding or oozing. Cover whatever you can with the smallest possible
bandage. Men: Don’t be afraid to use concealer for acne or shaving accidents, but make sure you have the right color and blend thoroughly.
If it’s something the interviewer is bound to notice—a huge bruise you can’t cover—offer a brief, factual explanation and move on. I once had an interviewee show up with cotton hanging out of his nose; he said, “I am so embarrassed to tell you this, but on my way here I got a bloody nose. I’ve never gotten one before. I just wanted to get that out of the way!” I was so relieved he had brought it up so I didn’t have to.
THE SCENT OF SUCCESS
Yes, you want an interviewer to remember you, but not because you left strong or unpleasant odors lingering in your wake. Fresh and clean is the way to go. Shower in the morning and steer clear of pungent foods like fish, garlic, onions, or beans. If you smoke, have your last cigarette before you shower, and air out your outerwear overnight. The interviewer shouldn’t be able to smell smoke on you, your clothes, or your coat. If you’re applying perfume, cologne, or aftershave, be sparing—some people are allergic or sensitive to scent.
If the interview is scheduled for 9
A.M.
and you wake up with a problem and can’t reach anyone by phone, show up if you’re able. Explain the situation to the receptionist and ask if the interviewer would prefer you to reschedule: “I’m terribly sorry, but I woke up with a bad case of the flu. I’m hoping to reschedule, but if that’s not possible, I’m perfectly willing to go on as planned.”
Q. I’m quite overweight, and I’m worried that my extra pounds will affect my candidacy. Do you think that’s possible?
A.
The right answer is you should try to lose weight for your health. But this is not a diet book, so here goes: There is absolutely an employer bias against overweight people—you’ve probably read about such discrimination cases in the news.
The best thing you can do is to dress impeccably in dark colors. For men, this means well-tailored suits—the right cut can work miracles. For women, simple one-piece dresses often work better than skirts and blouses; accessories should be minimal and sophisticated. The overall goal is to look as polished as possible, drawing attention to your confidence and sense of style instead of to your extra pounds. Consider getting your hair professionally styled. Get a manicure. If you
can, spend a little extra on grooming and clothing; you need a competitive edge here.