With an unemployment rate of over 9 percent in the US and higher in some states, many people interview for jobs if they can find companies looking to hire. Since the number of unemployed is greater than the number of people hired, it is extremely important to make a great first impression in your in-person interview than just on your paper resume. Sure, what you look like on paper might be great, but can you fit into the “work style” of the company you’d like to work for? Can you position yourself as a person who can take the bull by the horns and complete your project on time or make that big sale for your company? What you use for that interview could be a heads-up to the interviewer that you are capable of performing the tasks for the position or that you may not be up to the job. First impressions are fifty percent of the game and what you choose for that first wardrobe choice is included in that fifty percent.
In my experience as a fourth generation designer and retailer in a city that has more suits and sells more suits than any other, I have helped many beginners choose their suits to help them successfully search for the job they want. Some are even shopping for their first suit and have no idea what to choose. So with all this preamble, your choice should be very simple. This is not a party, a wedding, a disco or a Bar-Mitzvah. Keep it very conservative.
Solids always work best. Lately, charcoal gray has been imposed on navy blue. Navy sometimes looks harsh and could be close to black if midnight is enough. Charcoal is softer on the eye and exudes depth of color and shows details of handcrafted suits. You should not opt for zoot suits, four-button suits, or double-breasted suits. Although some designers show double-breasted, it is not suitable for an interview. Three-button suits are mostly out of style. Choose a classic two-button single-breasted suit with side slits at the back. This is a very classic design with a European touch and will stand the test of time that you can wear for many occasions. Always wear a new white shirt. Make sure the necklace is the correct size. The worst offense in buying a shirt is having too much room in the neck to make it look like you just lost ten pounds. Do not wear the shirt straight out of the package, clean it first at your local dry cleaner. Order it back in a shed without starch. This will allow the collar to fit your neck better as it will not be as stiff as it is from the factory. French cuffs are not necessary. You don’t want to look dapper than your interviewer, especially if he may be a CEO. Always wear black lace-up shoes, either wingtip or toe. Do not wear shoes that are very pointed, long, or shoes that appear to have square toes. It is acceptable to have a style of footwear that is very Italian in nature and adds a beautiful shape to the foot, but again keep things simple. This also affects your choice of neckwear. Here you can show that you have personality. Men and women know that a tie is a very personal type of item. You don’t need to walk in with a solid blue or black tie. You also don’t want to walk in with Donald Trump red or pink. Choose colors that complement the color suit you choose, and keep the patterns small and neat. With all that being said, your resume in tow, be confident, give a strong handshake, and get the job you want.
