Dress Your Best

Jeans, tank top, and flip flops are not the kind of attire you would expect from someone going in for an interview.

It does not scream professional.

Even if you are going in to just put in your application you should have a well put together outfit on.
Being in retail for four years, I have seen many people come and go like a perpetual revolving door. With Some, the amount of time they were there fit in with my initial impression of them.


A few I saw and remembered from when they were submitting an application. I was shocked at how they were dressed. Many of them dressed a little nicer for their interviews, but not much.

These days it is all about the first impression. If you look like you are serious, then people will take you seriously.

In high school we were always told to “dress for success.” A great deal of emphasis was put on looking your best so that you can do your best. It is interesting to see that when you Google, “What to wear to an interview,” you see that phrase come up quiet often.

Many websites offer numerous suggestions for interview attire. Monster has an article by Peter Vogt, which details what the possible options are for an interview outfit.
His main source, Amy Glass, says that you are marketing yourself as a product to the company you are interviewing for. She said that a conservative suit for a man would be appropriate, and a conservative suit as a woman as well.


Most people really want to show off their personalities through their clothes, but in an interview situation it is not entirely appropriate, though it depends on what you are interviewing for.


Glass said that it is better to be overdressed then underdressed. Her advice is to get one good suit and then change it up from time to time with different shirts and accessories.

It is easy to find suits, since most retailers have them and you do not have to spend a lot of money on them.


Personally I think that have suit pieces that can be easily mixed and matched is another great way to go. If you have repeat interviews, they will not know that you are wearing one of the pieces you wore before, and it is a way to have more fun with the suit.


Many store juniors sections have nice suits that are not overly trendy, but are appropriate for the age range and can be mixed and matched. Even some of the suiting separates in stores can be mixed and matched.


If you are not sure what shirt to pair with an outfit, you can always go to the stores website, or catalogue and look up the suit. You can see what they paired with it and get some idea from there.

Or you could ask someone else for advice. In an interview you want to look as sharp as you can and market the best “you.”