The interviewer is not only looking for good answers from you. First impressions at the interview factor highly in the final assessment of your suitability. To make a favourable impact, you must feel as comfortable and confident as possible. Don’t ruin your chances by having to pull your skirt down in the worry that it is too short or being distracted by the stain on your collar. It’s not hard to dress appropriately and with the help of GraduateCoach’s tips there should be no chance of you slipping up.

STEPS TOWARDS MAKING THE RIGHT FIRST IMPRESSION

Be fashionably organised
It is a good idea to know what you are going to wear on the day of the interview as early as possible. You can then focus in on other things. Make sure everything is washed and ironed before the morning of your interview to avoid a last minute panic.

Try to fit in
If you are really unsure about what is suitable attire for your prospective work environment, then a good tip is to hang about outside the office at home time. Check out what people are wearing. Of course, you want to be yourself, but if you can stick to a theme already established within the office then all the better. You’ll need to fit in with them, not the other way around and it’s much easier to hire someone who looks like they will, rather than one who doesn’t.

It is better to overdress than to dress down
Some work environments – the media and other creative industries in particular – operate a far more informal dress code than others.

However, even if everyone else in the office is dressed in jeans, under absolutely no circumstances are you to turn up to your interview in anything that is denim. Trainers are also a no-no. In most sectors, you’d be well advised to attend the interview in a suit, or shirt and trousers/skirt.

For women, try to be stylishly demure rather than blasé. Don’t wear a skirt that stops above the knee and don’t wear a low-cut top.

Only when you’ve got the job and people love and adore you can you unleash more of your fashion sensibilities.

Don’t overlook your shoes – make sure they’re clean and have been polished.

People often overlook their personal appearance. Make sure your hair is nicely styled, you don’t need to rush out and get a short back and sides but everyone should think about whether they need a trim. Boys, make sure you shave or trim your beard. Girls, go easy on the makeup and don’t wear garish nail colours. You want your interviewer to be concentrating on what you’re saying, not wondering how much time you’ve spent in the bathroom.

Be comfortable
Don’t wear anything too tight or too loose. Anything that makes you shift and squirm and pull your clothes in different directions across your body will make you self-conscious. The key is to focus on the interview and not your choice of attire.

Fall back on old favourites
Pick colours and shapes that you have worn before and feel good in. There’s a lot to be said for how you carry yourself when you are confident about the way you look.

DO IT NOW!
Picture your wardrobe in your head or, even better, stand in front of it and piece together your interview outfit. Think carefully about the sector you are applying for and what kind of impression you will give off. Ask your friends to look at your outfit and see what they think, ask yourself, will this outfit help me find a job in the sector I am interested in.