INTERVIEW STYLE GUIDE

The first rule of dressing for interviews is:

YOU CANNOT GO WRONG BY BEING
BORING AND CONVENTIONAL!
Whatever the job, you want the interviewer to
remember you for your personality and
performance: not as "the one with the garish
tie/short skirt/nose stud ....". Once you have the
job, you can wear whatever the employer
approves of. But you need to get the job first - so
play safe! If you look really smart it will give a big
boost to your confidence.

Good grooming accounted for more

favourable hiring decisions than
qualifications.

A managerial style for women: shorter,

simpler hairstyles, hair away from face &
lacking adornments, moderate facial
cosmetics, tailored blouses & jackets, &
simple gold jewelry, was favoured.
Females dressed in blazers or short
belted jackets or tailored suits were rated
more favourably than than the same
A study by the University of Texas and Sonoma
State University found that levels of extroversion, women dressed in a beige dress with a
small rounded collar, & gathered, long
self-esteem, and how religious you are can be
judged from your physical appearance. (Vol 35, p sleeves.
1661, Bulletin of Personality and Social
Psychology)
A male wearing a blue jacket was seen as
more competent & properly dressed than
those wearing red or no jacket
A survey conducted by TheLadders.co.uk
management careers company found for senior male
and female executives conducting interviews 37% People wearing glasses were judged as
had decided against hiring a candidate due to the more intelligent, hardworking, &
way they were dressed. Traditional formal
successful, but also, not as active,
interview dress is the most likely to impress them
outgoing, attractive, popular, & athletic.
whereas the biggest turnoffs involved casual dress.
Prof. Richard Ilkka
36% felt co-ordination of colours and styles was
an important indicator of the candidates personality "The way you dress at work demonstrates
whilst 75% wanted clothes appropriate for the
your professionalism and enhances the
circumstances. 33% considered whether the
image of the business"
candidates style suited their organisation.
Waitrose
Orange was the worst colour to wear at interview
(95%) of executives felt it unacceptable, with red
84% and pink 83% also thought inappropriate. Stains and dirty marks turned off 59% of
executives.

Stick to safe corporate colours navy, black. Wear a suit or dress and jacket. Keep heels elegant
rather than teeteringly high. A skirt suit is more feminine than trousers. Keep make up soft, do
not wear too much jewellery. Beware of showing too much flesh, cleavage or leg and of dressing
too casually. Aim to be well groomed, elegant and professional, you will have more confidence
and this will come across to the interviewer.
Gabrielle Teare - Fashion Stylist

Where can I buy a suit for an interview?

Marks and Spencer's sell suits for about 60 which look smart. They have a machine washable
range at around 110. They are good for both advice and assistance too! Next and Burtons are
sell suits at around 110, Asda sell suits for about 40 minimum and Tesco sell smart suits for
about 50. Matalan and Primark also sell very cheap suits. A very cheap suit may be a false
economy as you may not be able to wear it many times before it goes out of shape.

Senior executives
conducting
interviews.

Positive
Impression

Negative
Impression

Male candidates

Female candidates

black socks 77%

tights 94%

black leather shoes 56%

high heels 69%

tailored navy single breasted

suit 51%

mid-length black skirt or

dress 64%

white or blue long sleeved

shirt 48%

pearls 56%

long sleeved and collared

shirt or blouse 42%

dangling jewellery 99%

cufflinks 37%

low key tie 35%

no handkerchief showing
35%

no tie 52% no jacket 50%

chinos 50%

big shoulder pads 97%

polo shirts 66%

low necklines 95%

jeans 82%

bare legs 94%

T shirts 88%

sports shoes 91%

leather jackets 70%

short skirt 60%