Getting tied up in an interview…
Mon, August 10, 2015
Posted by Kerry White on Monday 10th August 2015.
It seems that dress codes in organisations are changing quicker than the weather at the moment and according to a survey by ECigaretteDirect.co.uk in 2014, 34% of professionals no longer wear a suit for work unless they are meeting with clients or have an important conference to attend and 48% believe the age of the suit is all but over with ‘smart-casual’ attire taking its place.
My colleague and I had a “discussion” recently about whether or not a tie was absolutely necessary for a Friday client meeting, knowing full well that the client will be in dress down. My opinion? We are professionals and despite the unknown factor of what your client has decided to wear today, would it not be better to be overdressed rather than underdressed?
On the contrary, and in my earlier days as a recruiter, I do recall a rather shameful client meeting, wearing my favourite red stilettos – a challenge in the least. I casually tried to maintain composure and balance whilst having a tour of my client's renowned distillery which included tackling a steep flight of metal mesh stairs that took me and my stilettos by surprise!!
But as more and more organisations, both large and small, are promoting casual work attire, how will this affect what people should wear when attending interviews?
A clothing retail client requested that all candidates attend their interview in casual wear, their reasoning being that in their organisation, no one is expected to wear a suit or formal dress and, as such, do not require potential employees to either. Candidates have previously been rejected for attending in formal attire; their assumption is that they will not be the right cultural fit. Is this fair? What if they didn’t know to dress casually for the interview?
Knowing what to wear to a job interview is an age-old conundrum. Fashions come and fashions go, but style remains, and, for both formal and informal interviews, here are a few hard and fast rules:
Rule number 1 - There's no room for impromptu experimentation in your interview wardrobe.
Rule number 2 - Business dress can be very different for men and women. For men, surely it’s easy……. suit, shirt and tie but for women…. Yes you can wear a suit but what about if you wear a dress? Should a jacket always be worn too? Tights or no tights? Flats or heels… the list is endless…
Rule number 3 – Ladies….. Please refrain from flashing too much cleavage or leg….. think back to our school days when the dreaded ruler would come out to measure the length of our skirts!!
Having worked in recruitment for over 10 years, I have always recommended attending an interview in business dress no matter what the organisation’s dress code policy is, unless, of course, stated otherwise! First impressions count and I believe in the HR industry this is even more important. The perception of you should be as a professional who is proud of their own personal branding. If you are successful in the interview process and start with the organisation, you can then adapt your style to a more casual fit if needs be.
The final decision on what to wear will always lie with you, the attendee. Yes, we can provide insider information on the culture, environment and style of the organisation but it is you who must feel comfortable and confident in yourself. This, I am sure, will then be replicated in your interview.
