Recently, I’ve been getting a lot of e-mails from readers asking for advice on what to wear for a job interview. It seems that a lot of people are a little unsure of what to wear for a job interview. Do you dress up in a full suit with matching cufflinks and tie? Or do you dress down and turn up smart casual?

There are many varying opinions on the subject but, for me, there is one answer which fits better than any other. It depends.

It depends on the position you’re applying for. It depends on whether or not you’re comfortable wearing a full suit/tie ensemble. The general consensus that I get from speaking to my friends, and their friends, is that a safe option is always dress smarter than you think you need to.

First impressions in a job interview

Dressing smarter than you think you probably need to dress is the safest option because as the old saying goes, “You don’t get a second chance at a first impression!“. I’ve turned up to an interview dressed casually before and I have immediately regretted the decision once the interviewer looked me up and down with just a hint of disdain. Apparently jeans, trainers and a t-shirt with the slogan “fancy a fcuk” are not suitable for a job interview!

Fashion tips for a job interview

I’ve compiled a quick list of fashion tips to make sure that the preparation for your job interview goes smoothly. Obviously, I can’t guarantee that the interview will go so smoothly - that’s down to you!

1. A plain white shirt. Nothing says professional better than a simple and stylish white shirt.
2. Black shoes. Simple, elegant shoes can say more about a man than anything else. Make sure they’re well polished.
3. Plain black socks. No one wants to see you rocking neon green socks at an interview! Leave them at home.
4. A black belt. No, I don’t mean you need to be good at karate! A nice black belt to match your shoes will do just fine. Bonus points for a belt with a stylish (but not overly elaborate) buckle.
5. A plain suit. For the first interview I’d keep it simple and stick to a plain suit with no patterns or pinstripes. Exude confidence and professionalism.

And now for the pièce de résistance:

6. A pink - yes, I did say PINK - tie. You need something to make you stand out from the crowd. Something to make the interviewer remember you. You can’t be wacky and outgoing because you need to look professional and competent. I have a hot pink tie which never ceases to become a conversation starter during, and after, my interviews. Real men can wear pink - if they choose to!

There are other ways to stand out from the crowd of potentials that are applying for the same job, but wearing a bright coloured tie requires little effort. All you need now is to learn how to tie a tie.

General interview appearance

Of course, dressing the part won’t be enough if you smell like a hermit and your hair looks like you got dragged through a hedge backwards! You’ll also need to follow these extra appearances tips so that you don’t fall at the first hurdle:

• Don’t wear jewellery. Unless you’re Snoop Dogg (and if you are, you wouldn’t be attending a job interview), leave the bling at home!
• Make sure your hair is neat. The castaway look is out - so keep it looking tidy.
• Clean nails. You don’t want dirt under your nails when you go to shake hands with your interviewer. Also, keep them clipped and don’t bite them!
• Just a splash of aftershave. You don’t want to spray it on with a crop-duster and overpower them! A couple of splashes on your neck - oh and one for Big Ben. As Alfie says, “You never know where the day may take you.”
• Empty your pockets. There’s no need for jingling coins or bulges.
• Turn your phone off! Or at the very least, put it on silent.

Follow these tips and you won’t go far wrong. Above all else, make sure that your personality and individual talent gets you noticed. With my help you can walk the walk - but it’s you that has to talk the talk!

I’m looking to do a follow up feature on this article about the worst things that can (and do) happen to men during an interview. If you’ve got any funny or interesting interview stories that you’d like to share then drop a comment on this post and I’ll add it into the article. For those of you that just want to catch the next article - Subscribe to our feed.

Image by J.R Ball, Esq.