| Deciding what to wear to a job interview can put | | | | dress any way they want after they work there, |
| you in a stressful quandary. On one hand, you know | | | | but you want to show that you still respect their |
| that you always want to look professional and give | | | | time and the company by looking like you put some |
| the impression that you are serious about the | | | | effort into it. You don't need to overdress, but never |
| company and the position. On the other hand, if your | | | | underdress. |
| only suit is navy blue and wool and the temperature | | | | Chat up the receptionist. Who better to know what |
| outside is roughly 80 degrees, you're probably better | | | | people are wearing than the person who sits at the |
| off leaving it at home. | | | | front desk all day? You can call the receptionist to |
| Here's some simple guidelines and tricks to figuring | | | | confirm the company's street address and nearest |
| out the correct thing to wear. | | | | intersection, then ask if they have a few minutes. |
| Use the Stalker Method. This involves sitting in the | | | | Tell them that you're coming in for an interview in |
| parking lot or across the street from the company | | | | the next few days, and ask if they can help you get |
| and watching employees as they walk in in the | | | | an idea of what people are wearing. He or she should |
| morning, go to lunch, or are leaving to go home. If | | | | be able to tell you the basics of the dress code, and |
| you see many men in suits and ties, and the women | | | | you can use the above guidelines to decide what is |
| wearing skirts and suits, then you know it's business | | | | appropriate. |
| formal and that showing up in less than the best is | | | | Know the industry. I was speaking with someone |
| going to stand out in a bad way. If men are in kakis | | | | recently who is in the restaurant industry. She said |
| and polo shirts, and the women are similarly dressed, | | | | that she showed up for job interviews in casual |
| then you don't have to go full business formal, but I | | | | pants and blouses, and all of her interviewers were |
| wouldn't recommend matching their level of dress. | | | | relieved that she looked like she knew the |
| The same goes if you see many people in jeans and | | | | industry-and that formal business suits are not the |
| pullover sweaters or the equivalent. In this case, you | | | | norm. If there is an industry standard or if the place |
| want to look nice, but men should still put on a sport | | | | you are interviewing is known as very formal or very |
| jacket, and for women dress pants with a nice | | | | casual, then use that as your guide. |
| blouse and silk scarf are appropriate. Employees can | | | | |