Dressing the Part!

Great! You got

the call to come in for an interview. Now you have to figure out what you are going to wear to the interview.

Don’t listen to anybody who tells you: “it’s no big deal.. just dress the way you do everyday”. It *is* a big deal, and you need to make sure that you give the right impression about who you are and that you really do want the job.

Dress the way you would dress if you got the job (except of course, if the job has a uniform!) – this means that you should dress better than you usually do. The person interviewing you WILL look at your appearance and whether you "dress for success."

Here are some tips:

Dress neatly – make sure your clothes are clean and neatly pressed
Wear conservative colors and clothes (think “church dress”)
Don’t wear shorts, sweats, short skirts, strapless or halter tops, no hats or beanies
Clean up those shoes! If you don’t have leather shoes you can wear, then make sure you clean up your athletic shoes
Wear socks
Sit up straight in the chair and pay attention to the interviewer (no slouching or slumping)
Don’t wear perfume or aftershave (you might love how you smell with that scent, but others may not!)
Go easy on makeup and jewelry

And, the best tip?

Ask an adult to take a look at what you plan to wear and get their opinion. Chances are it will be an adult that interviews you, and the input from a trusted adult friend or parent can really be helpful when planning how to dress.

Don’t forget that personal grooming is part of your "dress" too. A good haircut or trim will impress. So will clean fingernails, a fresh-scrubbed look, pleasant breath, and a great smile.

And, hey.. Good Luck!