Well Suited for the Interview
Did you know that an interviewer can make up to 13 assumptions about you? And that is before you open your mouth! Everything from swagger, to smile, and of course, your clothes, will get a rating by the interviewer opposite.
The good news is, getting the clothing part down is easy. There is actually what I like to call a standard ‘interview outfit’, which is as follows:
Navy Suit – Any basic coloured suit will work equally well. Any suit that falls into this category is classic, classy, and something you should own anyway. As with all suits, the key on this is fit. It should be slim and tailored to your unique body.
White Shirt –You can also go with something along the lines of a light blue or lilac (light solid colour) if it matches the suit and tie, but white is just easier. One thing to avoid at an interview is contrasting collars/cuffs. These are status symbols, and at the time of your interview, you have no status in the company.
Slim Tie –You can have a bit more fun with the tie choice if you are comfortable with it. Somewhere in your outfit, you want to wear something memorable, so when they recall you later, it can be something like ‘ . . . oh, that smart guy with the pink tie . . .’. Cufflinks are a no (too flashy), you can however consider a tie bar.
Overall, the interview suit is almost the same as your first or basic suit outfit. It does not have to be flashy or expensive, it just needs to look good. This may seem a bit lackluster, but given the pressure of an interview, the last thing you want is to worry about is what you are going to wear!
If you want a photo guide on this, check out the one I put together at Indochino.com:
http://www.indochino.com/stylebook/suit_for_interview.php
Kyle Vucko Chief Executive Officer Indochino.com
As a guy who actually does interviews (not for a while since the economy puked on itself) I agree with the assessment of dressing on the traditional side but I have some more tips as well.
1. Don’t look like a total douche.
When we give interviews we do discriminate on appearance and there is a generation gap between interviewer and interview-ee. so…
a.) get rid of that hairstyle that looks like a combover for a sagital crest. It is often refered to as a “fin” or a “fauxhawk”. Its the mullett of the naughties anyway so get rid of it before too many pictures are taken of you and give your children something to make fun of you for on your 40th birthday.
b.) don’t wear tiny bits of cloth or string around your wrist. (I have no idea what it is called) When I see this on men I think they have just been putting scrap cloth on themselves to remind themselves of something important and then forgotten what it was. If you want me to focus on a pointless piece of cloth on your body make it a pocket square.
c.) Turn off your cell phone during the interview. If it rings, don’t answer it. If you get a text, do not respond (seems obvious right? You would be surprised) and most of all…please…do not call your parents during the interview and do not hand the phone to me to talk to them if they call you.
d.) Try your best to get rid of any acne you might have. Guys with a lot of pimples in a suit look as funny as your grandfather wearing Phat Pharm clothing. It looks like you are being forced to a funeral or a prom with your cousin. If a breakout suddenly happens then do not wear a tie. (suddenly a pimply guy without a tie becomes less comical for some reason)
Has the latter part of C really happened to you???
Best,
Dennis Cahlo
Yes.
The guy’s parents wanted my assessment as to how the interview was going. They thought it was okay for them to call because they did not think he was going to get the job anyway and viewed it more as a “practice” interview.
To be fair his parents did not ruin it for him (though they did not help at all either). His resume was just a giant web of deceit.
So another tip for people being interviewed:
Don’t lie on your resume and be sure to say that you do not mind doing inventory during an interview.
These days since positions are being cut everyone is taking up the slack for doing inventory and no one is happy about it. So willingness to do inventory will make the interviewer say “Hmmm…that means I will have to do less inventory.” and the candidate will be one step closer to being hired.
That was a terrific slideshow. I never thought of the tie bar accessory but it’s great: not a power statement, not necessarily inappropriate, and nobody ever thinks to do it.
One question: do you think a tie bar AND a pocket square are appropriate? Seems to me like it should be one or the other–you don’t want to come across as having tried too hard or being excessively frilly.
And one comment (something forgotten in the first silde): always remember to button your jacket while standing and introducing yourself. You can unbutton it when you sit. It’s a gesture of respect and adds a touch of class that many men, especially us Americans, lack.
Hi Shogo,
Kyle Vucko (who wrote this article) may have a different opinion than me but I feel that if you are wearing a very basic suit (charcoal, navy, etc.), basic shirt, and basic tie then you can get away with a very crisp white pocket square and a tasteful tie bar with your interview ensemble. It adds some pop without pomp. If you show up wearing too many flashy items (bold pinstripe suit, bold tie, patterned shirt) then I think a boundary in interview attire has been sorely crossed. Unless of course you are Mickey Rourke.
All the best,
Dennis Cahlo