Get It! 4 Steps to Make Sure You Ace that Job Interview

Yay! You’ve secured the job interview after weeks of anxiously waiting. But the pressure to make a lasting first impression is doing your head in.

Now that you’ve finally got your foot halfway through the door, any wrong move would jeopardize your chances of snagging your dream job.

Relax, you’ve got this. Coco Chanel once said, “Dress like you are going to meet your worst enemy today.” She was right on point. Dressing for an interview is like a game of chess. Start by making strategic opening moves until checkmate.

Appearance is everything. It’s where the term power dressing comes from. As long as you exude confidence and professionalism, the only thing standing in the way of that job is you.

Step One: Do Your Research

Knowing how to dress for any job interview is the easy part. However, don’t take it for granted that the company you’re interviewing for is fine with you rocking up in jeans and sneakers.

Unless the job is as a retail assistant for a Gen Z fashion brand, by all means, show off your vintage jeans. At least make sure your sneakers are fresh and clean.

Now is also a good time to check up on the company culture. It’s all relative when it comes to dressing for success. Talk to current employees about their company dress code.

Some businesses have strict corporate guidelines and tend to take things down a notch with “casual Friday.” Others like tech startups don’t pay much concern to dress policy unless you’re actively meeting with clients.

Step Two: If the Shoe Fits, Maybe don’t Wear it

Social media can sometimes be more confusing than useful. Platforms like TikTok take users down a rabbit hole of information, and most times it’s not the best advice.

We can’t deny that corporate fashion has evolved over the years to business casual. Not as stiff and confined as in previous years, there are still hard and set rules that apply for interview attire. Always dress professionally. When in doubt, stick to business formal.

So when fashion influencers claim their job interview dressing tips are “the girl she thinks she is,” she isn’t.

HR specialist Erika Migliaccio is all too familiar with influencers giving "Office Siren" advice. While chatting with Newsweek, she said your outfit should be a reflection of your personality while still appearing smart, professional and stylish.

She does however draw the line at inappropriate wear for in-person interviews. Dresses and skirts should at least be knee-length. Too much cleavage is a big no-no. Like women, men should apply the too-much-cleavage rule. No one wants to see a tanned or hairy chest.

When it comes to shoes, and the heel’s too high? That’s a no. Rather opt for closed-toe shoes. What about sneakers and flip-flops? A big no for both. But if you want to fumble the bag and make a point, go ahead.

Step 3: Cover it Up

Tattoos and body piercings have long been contentious issues, especially with job interviews.

While some companies have made strides into becoming more inclusive, others outright refuse job candidates with visible body modifications.

When Ash Putnam applied for a job at her local TJ Maxx, she was shocked they had rejected her application. Wanting to dig further, Putnam visited the store and was told they had chosen other candidates who had more experience.

She insisted that because of her face tattoos and 11 piercings, the company had prejudiced against her.

In a perfect world, maybe Putnam would have gotten the job. Unfortunately, things don’t work that way. Australian recruitment expert Graham Wynn told Yahoo Finance that even though body art is an extension of self-expression, employers don’t view it as such.

Wynn explained that when interviewing for any corporate position, bosses don’t like to see any visible tattoos or piercings. He reasoned that they appeared unprofessional and intimidating.

Some retail and hospitality companies would be more accommodating depending on the organization's dress code, Wynn suggested. Another interesting observation he made is that recruiters and hiring managers find facial piercings worse than tattoos.

Still, he warned job seekers to rather play it safe and cover up when going for job interviews.

Step 4: Confidence is Always a Winner

No matter what you’re wearing, the best thing you can do is cloak yourself in confidence.

Imposter syndrome is real. Whatever doubts you have, move them aside the second you walk into that interview.

Remember, “You did not wake up to be mediocre.” Yes, we snatched that line from Robin Arzón to inspire self-confidence.

Now that you know how to dress for any job interview, get up. Get dressed. Dust your shoulders off. And get it!