Applicants dress for an interview showing up in jeans, purple sweat suits, and spike heels or sneakers. Other applicant’s show pierced body parts and spiked hair. While it is part of society to express yourself through your wardrobe, this will not get you a job!

When interviewing, you'll have to decide how to best express yourself through your clothes. The position you’re seeking, the industry you’re searching in, and the personality statement you want to make should determine your interview outfit.

Your first impression is very important. It is what the interviewer is going to base a great deal of assumptions on. Not only will the interviewer be forming impressions of whether you will fit in with the position and company, they may also be determining how much they will offer you.

In most cases, staying neat and conservative in your attire will hold you in good steed. You will certainly want to do your homework and determine what the dress code is for the position you are interviewing in. Remember to dress one step up from that. People still expect you to dress up for an interview. This shows respect for the process.

During your interview your clothes should be neat and clean, but very few interviewees give the same time and attention to their shoes. Shoes? Yes, shoes. Many have said that you can judge a person by their shoes. It is not enough to be clean, pressed, and ironed. Make sure your shoes are conservative, clean, and polished.

If you want to climb up the ladder, dress as if you're already standing on the top rung. How you are dressed can separate you from any candidate. It can make you or break you.

Your experience and the level of the job you are applying for will also affect your ideal mode of dress. For an entry-level candidate, the objective is to come across as capable and mature. A mid-career candidate, on the other hand, may want to accentuate his or her adaptability to a new office culture by foregoing the generic corporate uniform. If you have done your research properly, you will feel more confident in the clothes you have chosen for your interview.

When in doubt about your attire, do a self-evaluation and also get an opinion from someone you trust.

Hints for Dressing
Attention to details is crucial, so here are some tips for both men and women. Make sure you have:

• Clean and polished conservative dress shoes (closed toe for women)
• Well-groomed hairstyle
• Cleaned and trimmed fingernails
• Minimal cologne or perfume
• No visible body piercing beyond conservative earrings for women
• Well-brushed teeth and fresh breath
• No gum, candy, or other objects in your mouth
• Minimal jewelry
• No body odor

Finally, check your attire in the rest room just before your interview for a final check of your appearance. Not only will you look confident but also you should feel more confident. You should be ready for success.