Women’s Interview Attire: The Finishing Touches
At an interview, you want to appear professional, polished, and ready to go to work. Part of how you demonstrate that to your interviewer is by dressing professional, including choosing the right suit and accessories. It’s also important to make savvy choices with your finishing touches – hair, makeup, and nails – to complete your professional interview look. Here are some tips:
Hair
Like with the suit and accessories, your finishing touches should not be distracting to you or your interviewer.
That means right before an interview probably isn’t the best time to schedule a hair appointment for that trendy new hairdo. If you cut it to a length you aren’t familiar with, you may have issues getting it styled in a way you like. If you decide to change your hair color, you run the risk the shade won’t turn out as planned.
This doesn’t mean you should ignore your hair. If your roots are showing, make the necessary touch-ups. If you have an inch of split ends, get a trim.
On the day of your interview, you’ll want to style your hair so none is falling in your eyes. Also take care to tame flyaways, frizz, and knots.
If you’re prone to playing with your hair, like I am, you may want to tie or clip it back to help avoid sending the message you’re distracted or uninterested in the discussion. You could wear a ponytail with a lock of hair wrapped around the tie. You could wear a sock bun. A half-updo also works well.
Makeup and Perfume
Some women never wear makeup, and some won’t go out in public without it. If you wear makeup to your interview, keep it light and natural. A little foundation, lip gloss, and mascara can go a long way.
It’s very easy to over-spritz perfume and end up putting too much on, which can be very distracting to others. If you don’t usually wear perfume, don’t wear it to your interview. If you do want to wear perfume, spray once and don’t reapply throughout the day.
Nails and Hands
If you regularly wear nail polish, don’t go into your interview with chipped polish. Also avoid bright colors or designs that could be perceived as unprofessional. Put your best foot (or hand) forward by choosing a neutral color, such as a clear or light pink polish.
Even if you don’t typically wear nail polish, your hands may still need a bit of TLC. Make sure your nails are trimmed and clean. If you’re like me and are prone to dry skin, especially in winter, you may want apply hand lotion before you leave for the interview. Give the lotion plenty of time to sink in; you don’t want your interviewer to get a handful of grease when they shake your hand!
The first interview is about giving a good first impression and the way you present yourself will influence how you’re perceived. Reference these tips to create an interview look to help convey you are a serious professional ready for a career.
Missed one of our previous tips? Check out the other parts of this series:
