Research
How do you know what to wear for your upcoming banking job interview? Well there are general rules that we will talk about as we go. But to get an extra advantage you could ring up the receptionist or HR team to ask what the dress code is. If you would like to use a less direct approach, then try visiting the offices/workplace a few days before your interview to get an idea of how the other employees dress.
Clothing
This is one of the main parts of your appearance that you need to take into consideration when preparing for a job interview.
Make sure your clothes fit right. Try and avoid very baggy or very tight clothes and when it comes to women you should try to avoid showing cleavage and too much of other body parts. Your CV and personality should be getting you the job and not what is on show.
Men should avoid the faux pas of wearing a whacky tie, not everyone enjoys these and you will give the impression that you are not serious in the workplace.
Ultimately when considering what to wear, you should bear these tips in mind but make sure you are comfortable. If you are confident and comfortable you will appeal to the interviewer.
Grooming
People need to match their hair to their outfit. If you are dressing smart it is best to make sure your hair is tidy and smart as well. Traditional hair cuts will always be better suited over the latest trendy cuts, unless you are applying for a creative role. Men should shave and trim facial hair before the interview as this will add to the neatness of your look.
Bring a comb or brush to the interview to you can have a quick tidy up for it starts, this is especially important when it is windy.
Jewellery and Piercings
Jewellery should be kept to a minimum when dressing for an interview. A few pieces of gold or silver jewellery will help accent your interview outfit, but too much will be distracting and may make the interviewer dislike you.
Piercings are generally considered an interview faux pas. Women can get away with a few piercings on the ears, but all facial piercings should be removed as they do not always create the best impression no matter how nice you actually are.
Tattoos
This is a similar subject to piercings, tattoos are also another traditional thing you should cover up when applying for a job. No matter how proud you are of your body art, the interview is not the best place for showing it off.
Make-up
This one applies mostly to women, although it is an increasing trend for men to now wear make up. The best advice for make up is to make sure its subtle and professional. Try getting advice from friends and family of whether something looks right. You are applying for a job and not going on a date, so keep everything subtle and toned down. You don�t want the interviewer to be distracted by bright red lipstick.
Smell
No this one isn�t aimed at body odour, although it is a good thing to make sure you are showered and fresh. This is more about the amount of aftershave or perfume you wear. It is nice to wear a subtle scent to an interview, but make sure it is not strong and overpowering.
Misc
Things that you may not automatically think of are things like teeth and fingernails. Try and make sure your teeth are clean, nothing stuck in between them and your breath is fresh and minty, but don�t chew gum in the interview.
Nails also come under grooming, you should make sure your nails are trimmed and clean, there is no need to have anything as extreme as a manicure but interviews may notice dirty nails.
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This article was written on behalf of Martin Ward Anderson who provide recruitment for jobs in finance and public sector jobs
