You don’t get a second chance at making a first impression and this is especially true in interview situations. Below are some common dress mistakes:
1. An outfit that badly fits
You need to feel comfortable in what you are wearing in order to give full focus and attention to the interviewers’ questions. An ill-fitting suit, either too large or too small will only serve as an unnecessary distraction and add to the tension of an interview situation.
2. T-shirt under a blazer with jeans
Unless you are certain that the interviewer will be something similar, the best advice would be to err on the side of caution and be overdressed rather than being too casually dressed. Being casually dressed in a professional situation like this sends a message to the interviewer that you do not truly respect their organisation. However there are exceptions such as the hi-tech start-up sector where the emphasis is normally more on your programming ability rather than your professional dress sense, where t-shirts and jeans are often the norm.
3. Headphones
The majority of us now wear headphones when commuting by public transport. It is an easy oversight to leave one headphone in your ear or have them hanging over your business suit when you enter the building. Even worse you may be tempted to leave your headphones on until you are called to the interview room. This again can be misinterpreted by the interviewer as displaying a lack of respect and not being truly focussed on the job at hand.
4. Sunglasses on the head
With the Irish summer here at last and the temperature set to soar shortly, according to Met Eireann, it is essential that we protect both our skin and our eyes from harmful UV rays. On the way to the interview most of us will wear sunglasses in order to prevent having sore or tired eyes. Out of sheer habit, we often leave sunglasses on the top of our head and as they are so light, it can be easily forgotten that they are still there. This will only serve as a distraction to most interviewers who will notice a reflection on the top of your head and take away from their ultimate focus, which should be to determine if you are the right person for their organisation. Again, it is better to err on the side of caution and place sunglasses in your handbag/brief case prior to entering the building.
5. Strong Perfume or Aftershave
Your objective in an interview situation should be to minimise distractions so that the interviewer can remain fully focussed on what you are about to say. A strong waft of perfume or aftershave will only serve as an unnecessary distraction and in a worst case scenario, the interviewer may be allergic to what you are wearing.
You don’t get a second chance at making a first impression so it is essential to pay very close attention to what you wear in an interview situation. The above list is by no means exhaustive. See below for an interesting Abrivia blogs on how to dress in an interview situation.
To read how you should dress for an interview, please click here>>>
