Professional Appearance for Job Interviews

Teaching undergraduates involves a lot more than just conveying subject matter. For professors who are close to their students anyway, it also involves mentoring, career advice, and just listening to students’ challenges. The biggest challenge right now, of course, is finding a job. Business students are discovering that it is harder and harder to land internships and entry-level jobs even though career fairs and campus interviewing continues on. In short, employers are still hiring, but are increasingly picky and competition among job candidates is at a fever pitch.

What follows might seem extreme, but it is a result of several of my students asking little one-off questions here and there about personal appearance. As a manager who has interviewed and hired people over the years, I can say that the way a person dresses and presents is certainly never the only factor to landing the gig, but it can be a major factor. You might think the advice that follows is picky, but rest assured: people pay attention to the details, especially at the good jobs. And applicants need every edge they can get in this economy.

Here are tips that I’ve thrown together, which aside from the first point and the bonus “protocol tips” at the end, are mostly aimed toward the guys:

1. The main piece of advice is that you want the person to remember you, your personality, and your face, not something you have on. Subtlety is the key with dressing professionally, so …
2. Absolutely no facial hair unless the prospective job includes the words “art,” “music,” or “creative” in the title. Same goes with bushy or long hair styles. Think Anderson Cooper, not Keith Urban. If your head isn’t shaped weirdly, very short is fine.
3. No flashy cufflinks, tie tacks, tie bars, rings, jewelry, piercings, eyeglasses or other accessories. This goes for your mobile phone too. Silence it, hide it, and for god’s sake don’t answer or use it during the interview or while interacting with prospective employers. Likewise, avoid chunky, shiny, plastic or digital watches that look like they’re designed for an arctic expedition, not a job expedition.
4. No cologne, perfume or after shave. Trust me on this one.
5. Suit should be dark and conservative: preferably navy, gray or black (in that order). Wear a two-piece, two-button (preferred) or three-button, single-breasted suit that fits . Leave the vest, pin-stripes and patterns to the bankers, NBA players and mafia. Same goes for double-breasted cut. Your goal is style, not fashion. You want to dress like Cary Grant, not Jay-Z. Three very important things about suits:
• Nothing says “I’m a slob and will probably show up late to work” like an ill-fitting suit. You’re better off with a cheap suit that fits well than an expensive suit that looks like you borrowed it from someone else. So plan on spending extra, because an off-the-rack suit will always need alterations from a tailor, particularly with regard to the length of the pants. Make sure your pants are hemmed and not dragging the ground or scrubbing the heels of your shoes. Go for a very slight break in the front. The tailor will know what this means.
• Regardless of what the salesperson tries to tell you, try on a suit that is one number size smaller than what is supposedly your size. Again, trust me on this one. With arms hanging at your side, your dress shirt cuffs should show from beneath the suit sleeves by just about a half-inch.
• Never button the bottom button of your suit jacket unless you are auditioning as a waiter or butler. So, that means the top button buttoned on a two-button suit or the top two (or only middle) on a three-button suit. Unbutton discreetly when sitting down.
6. White shirt (no colors or patterns) in slim or “athletic” fit. Solid colored or very subtle patterned, simple tie of traditional width: not too skinny. Avoid gaudy colors or ties that have silk-screened/printed patterns unless you paid more than $100 for it, and even then it should be conservative … not a “power” tie. You don’t have any power (yet). Otherwise, printed ties basically say one thing: Sears. A four-in-hand or half-Windsor knot should be sufficient and the tie should hang at or just a bit below the top of your belt. Should you learn how to correctly tie these knots? If it appears that you can’t handle a knot, what about a complex project?
7. Shoes should be leather lace-up dress shoes. Black or ox blood cap toe oxfords are a safe bet. Do not go for buckles or slip ons/loafers. Your belt color should generally match your shoes. Important: Shoes should be SHINED. No exceptions. If you live in sloppy snow conditions like we do here in Minnesota, carry some paper towels with you and wipe down your shoes just before the interview. A quick spit shine is permissible (if nobody’s looking). I know plenty of execs who would get a read on someone’s attention to detail by having a look at their shoes.

Bonus tips on general protocol:

1. Look people in the eye.
2. Say “ma’am, sir, please and thank you.”
3. Never begin an email with “Hey” or “Hi” to anyone other than your closest pals.