Simple Truths about Wardrobe and Grooming for Your Job Interview

In Chapter 2, we talked about researching the company to better understand what the employer's needs are and how your unique skill set addresses those needs. Part of that research process should also include how people dress and behave in that environment. Some companies are very conservative: In my hometown, there's a billion-dollar company employing thousands of people nationwide, that has a very strict wardrobe and grooming policy which dictates that women wear skirts or dresses, and men wear dress shirts and ties. It even prohibits facial hair and body piercings. This may seem restrictive by 21st-century standards, but the policy exists nonetheless. People interested in working for this employer must conform to the code if they wish to get past an initial interview. On the other hand, there are technology companies on both coasts that encourage individuality, where even senior management can rarely be found in business suits. Most employers fall somewhere in between these two extremes, but whatever the accepted norm for a particular business, it's important for you as the candidate to understand the culture and do your best to emulate it when preparing for your interview.

Some candidates will stand outside the building or sit in the employee parking area to observe how people entering and leaving are dressed. When scheduling an interview, it's also reasonable to ask what the dress policy is. This information might even appear somewhere on the firm's Website, especially if it's a large organization. Of course, if you know friends who work at the target company, they can be your best source for intelligence about dress codes and company culture.

Regardless of what you have learned about the company culture, a general rule of thumb is to dress for the interview at a level one step above the position you're applying for. That usually means dressing as you would expect your prospective supervisor to dress. Generally speaking, if the job opening is for an office position, a business suit for men and a pant suit or conservative skirt or dress with tasteful accessories for women will serve you well. If you're applying for a blue collar position or one where you'll be performing physical activities, more casual (but clean and neat) wardrobe choices may be appropriate—for men, perhaps khaki trousers and a collared sport shirt, but not jeans and a T-shirt. The key is to project an image that says you respect yourself enough to put your best foot forward and that you would represent the company well, even if your job is an internal one without direct customer contact.