When you are dressing for a job interview, how you present yourself counts. Your image is the first thing a potential employer is going to notice about you once you enter the room. While what you wear to a job interview matters the most, it’s also important to consider what you shouldn’t wear if you want to make the best impression. Here are a few tips.

Colors

Color selection plays a major role too to make a positive impression on your interviewers. Firstly, wearing an inappropriate dress is a big no. So, keep out of low-cut neckline dress, ladies. Wearing a bright and flashy color like red maybe not too appropriate for whichever positions you’re applying. Be mindful when choosing the color of your clothes. If you’re going to wear a daring color dress anyway, make sure the overall design of your outfit is conservative.

Navy, dark gray, black, and other neutral colors are the best for a job interview. Wearing neutral colors over bright attires can also be chosen. Remember to limit the bright color and don’t make it the dominant color. For instance, you may wear a red scarf and match it up with a black suit.

Accessories

Men and women should keep their accessories to a minimum. Ladies should not wear excess jewelry. For instance, if you’re a woman who likes earrings so much, instead of wearing big flashy hoops earrings, wear classic studs. Avoid wearing anything too dazzling and draw attention. Men don’t usually wear jewelry as accessories. However, be mindful of your belt, tie clip, or cufflinks.

Perfume or Cologne

Be easy on the perfume or cologne you usually use. At worst, you don’t know if the interviewer is allergic to the scent of perfumes, the strong one in particular. A strong scent of perfume can leave either a good or bad impression that your interviewer remembers about you. You don’t want that to happen, do you? So, if you insist on wearing perfume or cologne, spray light amount of it or pick a light scent instead.

Makeup

Looking at your best is important, but overdoing your makeup is not important. Ladies, keep a natural and soft look when going to an interview. Avoid using the bright palette and stick to neutral colors for your eyeshadow. Overall, a good rule of thumb is to choose shades within a close range of your skin tone.

Shoes

Shoes matter too. Stay away from flip-flops or sneakers. However, depending on the type of offices and industries you’re applying, casual shoes may still be safe. Avoid really high heels and platform shoes. Closed-toe pumps in a neutral color are best for women, and for men, slip-on or lace-up shoes are the best.

Tip: Know the Office Environment

Different industries have their own dress codes. Before coming to the interview, do a bit of research about the company’s work environment. Check their social media posts, website, or anything you can find on the internet. They might give you a little hint about the company’s culture so you can fit yourself. In a conservative environment, stick to solid colors without patterns.

In more casual offices such as startups, you can feel more comfortable wearing a bit more colors that convey a bit of your personality. When in doubt, choose neutral, solid colors to the job interview.

Aside from considering your outfit to the job interview, don’t forget the important factors: you, your work experience, and how you would be a fit for the job.

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Concept by: Rizky Anggara

Design by: Risky Ramanda

Written by: Novrisa Wulan