Men: Don’t Dress Like This to a Job Interview
By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
I used to watch the old show, “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” on AMC, and now it’s successor “Queer Eye” on Netflix. Among the things the Fab5 do is show the men how to dress to look fabulous. I know many of you need help, too.
You’ve landed an interview for a job you are interested in. Now comes the next hard part – deciding what to wear. Your outfit choice speaks volumes about you in those crucial first impressions. Making the wrong call on your interview attire could tank your chances before you even open your mouth.
Avoid these common mistakes men make when dressing for job interviews in 2023:
- Flip flops or bad-looking sneakers. Stick with clean, polished dress shoes in black or brown for conservative organizations. Casual footwear gives the impression to these firms you don’t take the interview seriously. For others, great-looking sneakers or casual shoes that complement your look make sense. Be smart. If they are dirty or scuffed, don’t wear them.
- Graphic t-shirts. Plain, solid color shirts or subtle patterns only. Avoid anything distracting or unprofessional.
- Shorts. Even if the office dress code allows shorts, play it safe for the interview with slacks or khakis. You want to come across as sharp and professional.
- Untucked shirt. Keep your dress shirt neatly tucked in. The untucked “messy” look is not interview-appropriate for many firms. For some firms, it will be. If in doubt, tuck your shirt in.
- Distracting jewelry or accessories. Skip the bold printed tie, bracelets, or loud cufflinks. Keep it simple – the focus should be on you, not your loud accessories.
- Visible tattoos. If in doubt cover up any visible tattoos, because they may be off-putting for more conservative interviewers. Play it safe and keep tattoos covered up. Disregard if you want to be accepted, tattoos and all.
- Sunglasses. Don’t wear sunglasses to an interview unless medically necessary. You want the interviewer to see your eyes and facial expressions clearly. Sunglasses can come across as distracting or too casual. If you wear glasses that shade tint depending upon lighting as I do, arrive early enough for the tinting to disappear. Wait in the lobby until it does.
The key is to pick items that are traditional, conservative, and polished for firms with that expectation of you. For firms that want a more casual/stylish look, you want to wear what is right for them. You always want to look put-together, but not draw negative attention away from your skills and qualifications. Look great!
How to Make a Good Impression on An Interviewer
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
People hire Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter to provide No BS Career Advice globally because he makes many things in peoples’ careers easier. Those things can involve job search,
hiring more effectively, managing and leading better, career transition, as well as advice about resolving workplace issues.
Schedule a discovery call at my website, www.TheBigGameHunter.us
He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with over 2600 episodes.
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