Dress to Impress: how does your interviewer see you?

Leeds Student spoke to Nalayini Thambar, Assistant Director of the University of Leeds Careers Centre for some advice on how to really sell yourself.

LS: Is there a general dress code for an interview?
Careers Centre: It depends on the type of company you are being interviewed by – they could be very formal or quite casual about their approach.
Generally speaking it is much safer to be smart, even if they have a casual dress code, as in an interview setting it will demonstrate that you are taking the opportunity and the company seriously, which will count in your favour.
If you really want to get it ‘right’ you could try and find out what the dress code is in advance (eg: based on discussions at careers fairs, talking to people in similar companies, what you know about the industry) and dress to the smart side of that. Generally speaking you want you, not your clothes, to have the most impact so don’t dress in a way that may lead your interviewers to jump to unhelpful conclusions about you or that will distract your interviewers from what you are saying and how you are saying it.

LS: What would you advise men to wear?
CC: Certainly suit, jacket and trousers is a good bet with complementary shirt and tie.  Generally the suit should be in a conventional colour – black, grey or navy is fine. It is worth checking which suits your colouring best – black may look too severe on some people. Subtle pin striping is fine.  If the stripes are quite bold then it is more of a statement so make sure it is appropriate for the industry you are interested in. In terms of the shirt and tie, go for something neutral but that doesn’t mean white shirt and dark tie – just leave the ‘expressing yourself through character socks and tie’ moments to once you have started working there.
The suit doesn’t have to be expensive – it needs to look to be of decent quality and be clean.  Make sure you have worn it before the day so you feel comfortable in it.  Hair products are fine in moderation and go easy on aftershave etc – you want the interviewer to remember your answers, not how you smell.

LS: What would you advise women to wear?
CC: Skirt or trouser suits or dresses will be fine – depending on the type of work. The same colour and style principles as men apply.
In terms of hem length make sure you can sit comfortably and smartly without being over-revealing.
Likewise necklines. In general, you don’t have to dress in a highly conservative manner but unless you are going for a job in the fashion/media industry this is not the arena to demonstrate exactly how on-trend you are.
Make sure your hair is smart and doesn’t cover your eyes (good eye contact is very important) but it doesn’t have to be up.
Some jewellery is fine; a statement piece could work as could a number of more discreet pieces.  Make sure you don’t wear too many (distraction again) and that you are not going to be tempted to fiddle with them during the interview.  Go easy on perfume and avoid very heavy make-up.
In terms of nails, it is better to stick to neutral colours – however fabulous your greens and blues may be.  If it is a more relaxed environment then a smart skirt or trousers with blouse/top may also be appropriate.
If you are wearing a skirt or dress then it is usually better to wear tights (sheer and neutral) – in which case take a spare pair just in case.
Make sure you are wearing an outfit you are comfortable in and shoes that you can walk in.  If you can walk confidently in a higher heel then go for it but generally I would avoid ballet pumps and killer heels and go for something that enhances your look and your walk.

LS: Is there anything we should take care to avoid – mistakes that are often made?
CC: Make sure that you know where you are going and allow yourself plenty of time to miss a bus, get lost, arrive, go to the toilet etc.  If you are not flustered on arrival that will help with your first impression.
First impressions really do count so make sure that when you first meet them you make eye contact with the interviewer(s) and smile and are ready to shake hands.
A confident opening will help carry you through.  Remember that the impression you make starts with the very first person who greets you at the organisation so present your best professional self to everyone from the moment you walk through the door.
Make sure that when you sit down you sit up straight and deep within the chair – this will help you to maintain an upright posture throughout the interview (often as people relax they start to slouch).
Know your habits; if you naturally wave your arms and hands around then try and keep them in your lap for at least part of the time so that you don’t distract. If you routinely twirl or mess with your hair or fiddle with jewellery then try and remember to keep it in check.
Preparation for interviews is key – there is no need to learn answers. To do well you need to be mindful of what they are looking for and what you would be doing in the role.
Remind yourself of what you have to offer and the best examples of your skills and experiences (reading your application form should help you with this).
The question that many people seem to struggle with and, amazingly are often surprised by, is ‘why do you want the job?’.
A good answer to this is showing some knowledge of the company and the opportunity and highlighting your key selling points will have a strong impact.

LS: What are the services offered by the Careers Centre?
CC: In terms of interviews then the Careers Centre can help you to prepare for an interview by discussing the types of questions you may be asked and how best to answer them as well as answering any other queries or concerns you may have.
You can also book a mock interview if you would like to practise your interview technique before the big day.

For more interview tips see: http://bit.ly/bbB5Ik.

Here you can also access an excellent DVD (on campus only) that shows real students and graduates being interviewed by actual recruiters. It includes extracts from each interview, selectors’ verdicts and candidates reflecting on their own performance.
If you are graduating in 2010 and don’t yet have any interviews because you don’t know what you want to do and what might be out there then we can help! You don’t need to know what you want to do before you come and use the Careers Centre. You can also look at graduate jobs and internship vacancies targeted at Leeds at: http://bit.ly/9xhe1M

The Psychology Behind Appearance

Communication statistics have offered proof that in only 5-30 seconds your appearance exudes three things about you:
1) Your socio-economic status
2) Your educational level
3) Your desirability

Perhaps even more alarming is a study by Dr Frank Bernieri (an associate professor of psychology at Oregon State University) suggesting that it is within the first 10 seconds of meeting your interviewer that they will make up their mind on whether you are right for the job. Dressing sloppily just says you do not care. Dressing conservatively, Bernieri says, shows that ‘One, you are making an effort; two, you are making an effort not to offend; three, you are polite and respectful’. Similarly, psychologist E.L. Thorndike said in the early 90s, when an individual is found to possess one desirable trait, that individual is assumed to have many other desirable traits too. Appearance, as the first thing they see, is therefore that one desirable trait that they have as evidence for other desirable traits.

Kim Zoller is president of Image Dynamics, a company which advises top designer companies like Hennessy and Louis Vuitton on image and communication skills. She says that other factors that affect hiring, such as being prepared for the questions, personal research on the company etc. are all trumped by appearance. This is because appearance is ‘something you can control’. Employers are aware of this, and so if you can not find the energy to make an effort on an aspect of your interview that you can control, then that does not recommend you further.

Conservative dress suggests you mean business, however, Zoller has a few tips on how to do ‘smart’. For example, excessive and obvious use of designer brands and any impractical fashion trends (e.g. lots of frills on women) suggest that you are overly materialistic and perhaps insecure; you have a need to ‘fit in’.         Overly revealing clothes work to the same effect, as it suggests you are trying to gain attention solely on your body, and may even give the impression that that is indeed all there is to offer. Make-up should be minimal, since hiding behind a cosmetic mask suggests you are not comfortable in your own skin. Even details like size make a difference. Wearing something that is ill fitting or even too tight makes you look lazy or sloppy. Make sure fingernails look cared for. Attention to such details give the impression that you are thorough and successful in all areas of life.

Clearly therefore, what you wear to interviews has important psychological factors for your employer. It is also worth remembering, however, that what you wear has a psychological impact on you. If you look smart and professional, chances are you will feel the same too and give that impression.