Dress to Impress, for Success

Clothing and personal style vary wildly from person to person. Whether you dress in “preppy” buttoned-up styles or wear as many athleisure leggings as possible, having a clothing aesthetic is a fun and easy form of self-expression. However, there are many situations in which you may need to adjust your personal style preferences to fit an expectation. These occurrences may happen quite often as a budding professional, as you’ll need an outfit that makes a good impression every time you go for a job interview.

In this month’s community workshop, Toni Miles from Dress for Success Chattanooga came and taught us about some relevant resumé and interview skills - something everyone needs these days. Building off of Dress for Success Chattanooga's message (and the organization’s title), I wanted to share some personal insight into dressing professionally for interviews or other career-related endeavors. 

Hiring professionals for any role means that hiring teams and management must pick people they believe will take the position seriously. While qualifications and prior experiences may mean you can do the job you’re interviewing for, the manner in which you present yourself physically communicates several messages about your attitude towards work. The HR manager for the City of East Ridge, Tennessee, Michelle Sinigaglio, says, “What you wear conveys your level of professionalism as well as seriousness about working for an organization. [Your outfit] is a nonverbal cue that indicates respect levels, sensibility, and how well your personality might ‘fit in’.” She confirms that someone’s ability to present themselves through nonverbal expressions like clothing plays an unspoken - yet huge - role in the hiring process.

Generally speaking, there are two words to aim for when dressing for an interview: Inoffensive and Formal. These words can mean several things, in addition to what you may be assuming. It may be common sense not to wear a shirt with a curse word on it, for example. But define something as “formal”… To figure out what that means to your interviewer, try doing some research into the company culture and (if they have one) dress code. Something garish or brightly colored may also come across as offensive in a professional environment. It would also generally be completely out of touch to wear flip-flops and shorts, unless you’re interviewing somewhere where that is part of the approved dress code. Something you may not typically consider is the amount of jewelry you’re wearing. Large, obvious earrings and chunky necklaces are certainly cute, but may not fit in with the desired projection of the company you hope to work for. 

So how can you work your own closet into something suitable for an interview? You don’t need a suit or anything like that! Keep things dark, simple, and elegant. Wear something that is not ill-fitting, such as a pair of nice, unwrinkled khakis or a skirt that reaches to an appropriate length. Shirts should be plain, as odd patterns, graphics, or bright colors may draw uncomfortable attention. Pieces you choose should not be casual - hoodies, ripped jeans, and tank tops are all off limits - but should instead be traditional businesswear to the best of your ability. Instead of a plain t-shirt, put on a nice cardigan, and make sure your shoes aren't just gym shoes. If all you have are jeans, pick the darkest pair and enhance it with a belt and a formal-looking shirt or blouse. If you need a point of reference, try to dress at least one step above what the employees in your desired role might wear.

While you can’t get a job based solely on the way you dress, dressing intentionally (even if it isn’t your preferred style) can help pave the way to professional positions. Also, because jobs across the country and world vary heavily in formality, rules like these may not apply everywhere. Do some research, listen to your head, and follow the rules to figure out what works best for you. Something else I heard from the East Ridge HR Manager struck me. She says, “Wearing something that you often see on professionals or other ‘powerful’ people can actually boost the confidence of job applicants, which helps them perform better in the interview.” So, even if you’re not doing it for the interviewer, try something new for yourself! It may just turn out to be a success!

For more information on job readiness, get in touch with Dress for Success Chattanooga here:

https://chattanooga.dressforsuccess.org/contact/