bigstock-Beautiful-young-businesswoman-1228886871_qgjasb-600x372How to dress for a job interview

Job interviews can be scary. If you’ve landed one, firstly, congrats! In the process of rehearsing for potential interview questions and conducting background research on the company, don’t forget to make sure you leave a positive impression. And that means wearing something polished and professional.

If you need a little help deciding what to wear, you’re totally in luck. Here are some tips on how to dress for that big job interview.

1. Keep your accessories to a minimum

While you may want to flaunt your jewelry collection, a job interview isn’t the time for it. Keep it simple, instead, with a nice watch or simple earrings. Also, skip wearing heavy perfume because you never know who has allergies. Always play it safe!

2. Avoid wearing overly casual clothes

Even if the company you’re interviewing for is super laid-back, it is still possible to take casual too far. Avoid wearing jeans, tennis shoes, t-shirts, flip flops, short skirts, or any item with messages or brands written on them. It's always best to err on the side of caution and save the fun stuff for after you’ve got the job.

3. Avoid wearing distracting items

You should avoid wearing anything that’s too bright or loud. That means you should choose subtle patterns over brighter ones and dark or neutral clothing over neon colors. Make sure you’re the focus of the interview — not your clothing. You can totally wear a bold print, but keep the rest of the outfit simple and subdued. On that same note, also avoid wearing anything that’s too revealing.

4. Keep your makeup office-friendly

Once again, the interviewer should be focused on you, not your cosmetics. Keep it simple. Instead of wearing something over the top, go with neutrals and a small pop of color if you'd like.

5. Wear clothing that fits well

This should be an obvious one, but make sure your interview outfit is tailored to you. Avoid anything that’s too tight or baggy.

6. Clothing that flaunts your tattoos or piercings is a no-no

Depending on where you are interviewing, you'll want to consider covering up your tattoos and taking out your piercings. (You could also have your ink lasered away.)

Position yourself for career success with a smart professional look

If you want to get the job, then you should present yourself in the best light possible. Whether you're applying for a job that will require formal dress or something more casual, you should still choose something dressed up and well thought out. By keeping a few simple rules of thumb in mind, you'll nail a career-best ensemble every time you interview.

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