What to wear and what not to wear for an interview

You were able to receive an interview for a great job because of your great cover letter and resume. You look great on paper. Now it is time to impress the interviewer with your interview. One of the key elements to having a successful interview is dressing appropriately. It is best to dress professional business attire to an interview. The clothes you wear can express that you are leader or you are a loser. It is best to dress conservative. The recommended conservative colors are either blue or gray. Wearing black can be considered to be too serious. Here are some tips on what to wear at an interview:

Women:

• Solid color, conservative suit
• Coordinated blouse
• Moderate shoes
• Limited jewelry
• Neat, professional hairstyle
• Tan or light hosiery
• Sparse make-up & perfume
• Manicured nails
• Portfolio or briefcase

Men:

• Solid color, conservative suit
• White long sleeve shirt
• Conservative tie
• Dark socks, professional shoes
• Very limited jewelry: wedding ring, class ring and/or metal watch
• Neat, professional hairstyle
• Go easy on the aftershave
• Neatly trimmed nails
• Portfolio or briefcase

After you have been informed what to wear at an interview, here are some tips not to wear to an interview. Remember you want the interviewer to concentrate on what you are saying and not what you are wearing for the interview.

1. Carrying a backpack or fanny pack instead of a briefcase or portfolio.
2. Sunglasses on top of your head or headphones around your neck.
3. Too-short skirts for women: the skirt should cover your thighs when you sit down.
4. The wrong tie: Ties should be made of silk, no less than three and a quarter inches wide with a conservative pattern. It has been suggested the color of the tie be red or burgundy.
5. Overly bright or large-patterned clothing: With the possible exception of creative fields like advertising or computer programming, it's best to stick with navy, black or gray.
6. Heavy makeup on women (or any makeup on a man).
7. Earrings on men: In fact, men should avoid wearing any jewelry unless it is a wedding ring, class ring or metal watch.
8. More than one set of earrings on women.
9. Facial piercing, tongue jewelry or visible tattoos.
10. Ill-fitting clothes: Wear clothes that fit you properly. You don't want to be leaving the interview and the interviewer stating, "Pull up your pants."
11. Long fingernails, especially with bright or specialty polishes. Nails should look clean and be trimmed to a length that doesn't leave an observer wondering how you keep from stabbing yourself.
12. Unnatural hair colors or styles. Remember, Donald Trump was a billionaire well before he began wearing a comb-over. If you're balding, try a close-cropped cut like Bruce Willis or Matt Lauer.
13. Short-sleeved shirts, even worse when worn with a tie.
14. Fishnets, patterned hosiery or bare legs. Women should stick with neutral color hosiery that complements their suit.
15. Men whose socks don't match their shoes, or whose socks are too short and leave a gap of flesh when they are seated.
16. Rumpled or stained clothing: If interviewing late in the day, try to change to a fresh suit beforehand.
17. Scuffed or inappropriate footwear, including sneakers, stilettos, open-toed shoes and sandals.
18. Strong aftershaves, perfumes or colognes: Many people are allergic to certain scents. For a subtle fragrance, use good quality bath soap.
19. Belts and shoes that don't match: Shoes and belts should be made of leather or leather-like materials and the best colors for men are black or cordovan.
20. Telltale signs that you're wearing a new suit. Remove all tags and extra buttons -- and remember to cut off the zigzag thread that keeps pockets and slits closed!