While first impressions aren't everything, nor are they all that often correct, they do tend to set the tone and significantly impact whether someone wants to interact with you again. Keeping that in mind, how you look when you arrive at that interview will affect how that potential employer views the interview. After all, an interview is often the first impression potential employers have in getting to know you. Potential employers might not even hear what you say if your wardrobe speaks louder than you do.
You may not want to admit it, but arriving to a job interview at an elite law firm in surfer shorts, flip flops, and a threadbare tank is probably going to leave an impression... and not the one you want. The interviewer will probably be left wondering just how serious you are about the job. Same goes for dressing in a Revolutionary War reenactment dress to a Starbucks coffee house, a God is Dead/a Myth t-shirt to Hobby Lobby (well, t-shirts to most interviews are a no-go), tons of dangly and flashy jewelry to a nursing interview or a slouchy, consignment-shop cardigan to a fashion magazine. Yes, Ugly Betty made it work but it probably won't work in the real world. Now I'm not saying you would ever consider wearing these unusual or simply inappropriate outfits to your potential future employer, but the same holds true for any number of social or cultural clothing faux pas. So let's get you started on the right path.
Remember:
"Costumes are the first impression that you have of the character before they open their mouth-it really does establish who they are."
― Colleen Atwood
"You only get one chance to make a good first impression, and yours may be in the hands of the receptionist."
― Harvey Mackay
"Never forget that you only have one opportunity to make a first impression - with investors, with customers, with PR, and with marketing."
― Natalie Massenet
With that in mind, let's take a look at what some professional job agencies have to say on the matter of what to wear:
Do a little research on the company you are trying to get in with. You want to look better than the people who already work there but just a couple of steps up. Actually, I find that looking at least one step up from the rest for at least the first six months or so once you have the job (the entire length of the probation period or longer is best), the more people will respect you. Show them through actions and respect shown toward their organization that you deserve to be there and that you are someone that others can look up to and respect/trust. You want them to appreciate the new-job honeymoon period, not look for ways to offload you.
For the interview, you are going to want to dress on the conservative side. That doesn't mean boring, but it does mean neat and tidy appearances, neutral colors, subdued (women) or nonexistent (men) jewelry, a hint of your own style but with a look that speaks to upward advancement. Unusual piercings, any tattoos, and punkish hairstyles probably won't get the correct reactions in most potential job situations. If you have these, it's best to cover things up. Remove what is possible of visible piercings. Wear clothing that covers tattoos. If you can do something with your hair to either make the punk-rock hairstyle look less punk-rock and more high-fashion, or at least more night-on-the-town, all the better. Let your words be your pallet instead of your clothing... unless you are trying for a fashion position. Then make sure your clothing is extremely fashionable. Just be sure there is more to it than just your clothes.
No matter what, don't break the bank. A four thousand dollar Armani suit that doesn't fit right combined with poor articulation of why they should hire you is not going to go nearly as well as a well-tailored off-the-rack (or thrift-store) suit and a well-crafted argument for hiring you.
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