Jeans, T-shirts and flip-flops: most students graduate from
college with little else in their closets. But the faded and frayed
won’t do out in the professional world, say career experts.
SACRAMENTO
Jeans, T-shirts and flip-flops: most students graduate from college with little else in their closets. But the faded and frayed won’t do out in the professional world, say career experts.
For many new graduates, knowing what to wear to a job interview – especially amid this year’s highly competitive work hunt – can be as stressful as cramming for final exams.
For years students have been in “college mode,” pulling on whatever clothes are clean or crumpled on their floor, said Davis-based career consultant Andrea Weiss.
But that’s a far cry from the corporate culture that most graduates will need to navigate once their tassels and gowns have been packed away.
“Dressing (for an interview) is as crucial as getting the resume ready,” said Eva Gabbe, recruitment programs manager at California State University, Sacramento. “All of it adds up to success – even the tie.”
Especially in this economy. Roughly 52 percent of firms surveyed expect to decrease their hiring of college graduates in 2009, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, a Bethelem, Pa.-based research company.
In an ideal world, job applicants would be judged solely on their skills and smarts. But surveys of employers indicate that appearances do play a part in whether you get hired.
In other words, wearing that sparkly, slinky top or your “lucky” Mickey Mouse tie could hinder your hireability, Gabbe said.
To employers, showing up to an interview in appropriate clothing is a good indicator of whether an applicant understands the company’s corporate culture, said Marcie Kirk-Holland, project manager at the UC Davis Internship and Career Center.
Some new graduates already have it figured out. Mason Shipley, a recent CSUS grad in criminal justice, sports his favorite salmon-colored dress shirt and a purple tie when interviewing for sales jobs, hoping the vivid colors set him apart. But when it’s an interview in the more conservative criminal justice field, he opts for a jacket and a pale blue shirt.
“When you go for an interview you’re supposed to look the part,” Shipley said.
Others learn the hard way.
One of Gabbe’s top CSUS accounting students had a 3.9 GPA, a hip fashion sense and dyed-blond hair he refused to part with. In the buttoned-down world of traditional accounting firms, “Nobody would touch him,” she said.
He wouldn’t wear a suit to interviews and, despite stellar credentials, couldn’t get hired.
After consulting with Gabbe, he switched gears and started interviewing with firms in less traditional fields. Eventually he found his fit at a more laid-back industrial company, she said.
Not everyone can afford to be so picky in this recessionary job market.
While most company dress codes have relaxed over the years, hiring managers still expect applicants to exhibit professionalism at an interview – even if they’ll be wearing jeans on the job, Weiss said.
“This isn’t the place to be expressing your wild fashion sense,” Weiss said. When in doubt, err on the conservative side. That means neutral colors, subdued patterns and understated styles.
If you’re job hunting in traditional fields, like finance or sales, a good suit would be a smart investment.
But it’s not the price tag that counts.
Check out suit styles in department stores like Nordstrom or Macy’s, Kirk-Holland said. If you’re on a budget, wait for sales, head to outlet stores, or peruse thrift stores and consignment shops.
Don’t feel the need to buy more than one suit – even if you’ll be interviewing multiple times at the same company, career counselor Weiss said.
Alternate your tops, ties and accessories, as most interviewers won’t remember exactly what you wore – unless it’s something outlandish, said Weiss. And in that case, she added, “You may not be back for a second interview.”
Web sites like Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com abound with tips for interviewing attire.
But don’t play a guessing game.
Call the company’s human resources department, or scope out the company parking lot to gauge employees’ dress code. (But don’t observe on Fridays, when many companies allow more casual attire.)
When deciding what to wear, try everything on (shoes included), walk around, sit down and be sure you’re comfortable. And ask for a second opinion, Weiss said.
“If there’s any question – any little voice running through your mind questioning what you’re wearing – you should probably change,” she said.
And don’t forget the details: clip tags from new shirts, remove loose change from pockets, and make sure bra straps and boxers aren’t hanging out.
If you sweat easily, arrive early, don’t put your jacket on until just before the interview and keep a tissue in your pocket to squeeze before shaking hands, Kirk-Holland said.
Being confident and comfortable when sitting across from a potential employer is essential, she said.
“You want to stand out for your intelligence, clarity and ability, not your ill-fitting clothes, perfume or beard that is wispy,” she said.
Note to self: It’s competence, not clothing, that matters most.
