Your Appearance

To most employers, first impressions count, and a job applicant's dress and grooming can be important - and sometimes even critical - factors in the hiring process. Inappropriate clothing or poor personal appearance are major factors leading to the rejection of candidates, and in fact, one recent survey discovered the following:

• 95% of employers said that a candidate's personal appearance influenced their opinion of the candidate's suitability for the job.
• 91% said they believed dress and grooming reflected the applicant's attitude towards the organisation.
• 61% said that dress and grooming had an effect on subsequent promotions.

Your appearance reveals a great deal about your self-image, your values and your attitudes towards other people and situations. More favourable qualities are often attributed to smartly dressed people, and those who are seen to be well groomed are usually treated better than those considered to be badly or inappropriately dressed. If you arrive for an interview carelessly dressed and groomed, a potential employer may assume you are careless about other matters. They may believe that you lack initiative and may need close supervision.

Not only will employers judge your appearance as a reflection of your total personality, but also in relation to the type of work you will be doing, so it is important that you dress the part. If you dress as the other employees do, you will give the interviewer the impression that you will 'fit in'. Before your interview, try to find out the dominant style or accepted image in the company that you hope to work for; consider making a visit to the company at lunchtime or the end of the day to see what people are wearing. If this is not practicable, have a look through their website or other literature to see if they contain photographs of employees.

Your appearance can also affect how you feel about yourself. Knowing that you look your best can give you added confidence in yourself, which can be essential in making a good first impression.

When buying an outfit for a job interview, make sure that everything fits and is comfortable; a suit that is baggy or ill-fitting will be off-putting for the interviewer, whilst a waistband that is too tight or shoes that pinch will provide an unwelcome distraction for you.

Common sense and simple good taste are often the best guides to dressing for an interview. It usually is best to dress conservatively; this will ensure that the interviewer remembers you for your skills and qualifications rather than your loud jacket or tie. Choose suits that are sober in colour, such as blues, blacks and greys, and team them with a contrasting shirt or blouse. You should also pay attention to the finer details of your appearance; make sure that your shoes are polished, your nails trimmed and clean, and your hair neat and well-groomed. Keep jewellery to a minimum and avoid using too much perfume or aftershave. You should also avoid drinking alcohol or eating highly spiced food the night before the interview, and especially on the day itself. Eat a mint or use a breath freshener before you go into the interview, especially if you have been smoking.

Appearance Tips for Men

• Wear a conservative outfit - a two piece suit and tie in a sober and solid colour.
• Wear dark shoes (polished) and dark socks.
• Wear a long sleeve shirt.
• Avoid wearing bow ties.
• Ensure that fingernails are clean and neatly trimmed.
• Be clean-shaven or make sure that beards or moustaches are neatly trimmed.
• Avoid using aftershave, or use sparingly.
• Limit the use of jewellery.
• Ensure that hair is clean and styled neatly.

Appearance Tips for Women

• Wear a conservative outfit - a two piece suit in a sober and solid colour.
• Keep hemlines low, and certainly no further than 3 inches above the knee.
• Wear shoes (polished) with conservative heels.
• Avoid wearing dresses.
• Keep make-up fresh and natural.
• Avoid using a flashy handbag; your bag should be conservative and inconspicuous.
• Limit jewellery to one or two rings and one set of (discreet) earrings.
• Ensure that fingernails are clean and neat.
• Avoid wearing eye-catching nail varnish; keep colours subtle and unobtrusive.
• Ensure that hair is clean and styled neatly.
• Avoid using perfume, or use sparingly.