Start networking and exchanging professional insights

Register now or log in to join your professional community.

Follow

How should my clothes reflect my seriousness for a job interview? Can my body language be represented through my clothes?

user-image
Question added by Lana Oudeh , PR Coordinator , Al Ghanem
Date Posted: 2016/02/07
Mohamed Esmaiel Ali
by Mohamed Esmaiel Ali , sales , Al Wakeel

Look , employers want to hire candidates who are good fit with the organization , your clothes give the first impression for the employer , that impression happens in less than seconds and it's based entirely upon your attire , you should be true to your self and your clothing should reflect your self image and help you project your most confident self through your body language, what you wear and the color of it can send quick messages to the employer about who you really are, so you have to be careful in choosing your clothing so don't wear anything too fashion, don't wear something sloppy or better suited for a night of cocktails with your friends than a serious job interview , your clothes should reflect the industry in which you are interviewing, you have to consider regional differences also , so if you are interviewing in an unfamiliar area, be aware that the culture may be different from what you're used to , blue color send the message that you're credible and trustworthy according to expert , brown can convey the image that you're simple and old fashioned , qualities that aren't exactly positive in job interviews when you want to convey the message of being forward-thinking and modern so avoid it plus the orange of course , black is more suitable for an interview for a management position , grey is the best if you want to show that you're both logical and analytical, red can be a great color in fields like sales and the law where being aggressive is considered a positive , your attire should be clean and tidy, avoid shiny things,

 

Clothes reflect your personality and your first impression is taken by the employer, choose clean clothes - simple - elegant - an official - a decent and appropriate to the culture of the country, The body's attention to the movement of your body language, not too much traffic, reduced the hands and feet movement, do not abound smile or frown, not strained, moved away from touching the face and hair, sit properly without tightening nor relax, do not stare into the eyes of others and not just your eyes and make them roamed the room.

Mansour Abuthnain
by Mansour Abuthnain , نائب الرئيس التنفيذي لشركة المياه الوطنية , شركة المياه الوطنية

Greetings Lana, Body language is very important, it reflect your confident and professionalism. However, be careful don't act with your body movement more than needed ! just be normal. Regarding your clothes need to be simple and look professional. Just be your self. All the best.

Muhammad Adeel
by Muhammad Adeel , Sales And Marketing Executive , TANZEEM HEAVY EQUIPMENT RENTAL LLC

When a hiring manager assesses your appearance at a job interview, he considers your dress, hygiene and grooming, accessories and other features like visible tattoos. His perspective on the way you look affects his first impression, and can help or hinder your success during the job interview. Your body language will reflect that too.

The way you dress sends an immediate message as well. Even when a work environment has a casual dress code, hiring managers may prefer you dress professionally for the interview. Dressing professionally is always your safest approach unless you are told otherwise.

Shorts, T-shirts and sneakers are never appropriate for a job interview. 

shadi rizk
by shadi rizk , HR Consultant /Trainer , Freelancer

there is uniform or clothe code for interviews which is similar between companies. Before you say a single word to the interviewer, you have already made an impression based on how you’re dressed. The guidelines given here are commonly accepted as appropriate for interviewing. Every company has a different dress code; how you dress at the job may have very little to do with how you dress for an interview.

  • Generally, you should wear a suit with a skirt or pants.  When in doubt, be more conservative.
  • Your suit should be comfortable and fit you well; if your waistband is cutting you in half or your jacket is too tight, you won’t look or act your best. Some stores offer free alterations when you purchase a suit, or you may want to find a tailor to adjust a suit you already own.
  • Interview suits should be simple and dark in color. Anything tight, bright, short, or sheer should absolutely be avoided. (Interviewers have been known to complain about the length of interviewees’ skirts; if you have any doubts, it’s probably too short.) Knee-length skirts are suggested. Very long skirts, while modest, are also considered too trendy for an interview.
  • Wear a conservative blouse with your suit. Do not wear bright colors, animal prints, or anything lacy, sheer, or low-cut.
  • Make-up and nail polish should be understated and flattering; shades that are neutral to your skin tone are generally advisable. Avoid bright or unusual colors or very long nails.
  • Keep your jewelry and hair accessories to a minimum, and stick to those that are not flashy, distracting, or shiny. One ring per hand is best.
  • Shoes should be conservative and fairly low-heeled. They should be in reasonably good condition, not scuffed or run-down at the heels. Don’t wear shoes with an open toe or back; any shoes you would wear on a date or to a club are probably inappropriate. A basic pump is flattering, versatile, and will stay in style forever (once you own pumps, you can spend the rest of your money on fun shoes). The salesperson in the shoe store can steer you in the right direction.
  • Your hose should be neutral (matched to your skin tone). Make sure the heels are not dyed black from your shoes and that there are no snags or runs. Only use the nail polish trick in an emergency; you may want to carry an extra pair of hose with you instead.
  • Dress in a manner that is professionally appropriate to the position for which you are applying. In almost all cases, this means wearing a suit. It is rarely appropriate to “dress down” for an interview, regardless of company dress code policy. When in doubt, go conservative (is this starting to sound familiar?).
  • Your clothing should always be neat, clean, and pressed. If you don’t have an iron, either buy one or be prepared to visit the dry-cleaner’s often.
  • Shower or bathe the morning of the interview. Wear deodorant. Don’t wear perfume: you don’t want to smell overpowering or worse, cause an allergic reaction.
  • Make sure you have fresh breath. Brush your teeth before you leave for the interview, and don’t eat or smoke before the interview.
  • Your hair should be neat, clean, and conservatively styled. Banana clips, brightly-colored scrunchies or elastics, and cheerleader-type ponytails look out of place with a suit. You may want to wear your hair in an updo, pull it back into a low ponytail, or wear a barrette (this suggestion does not include the tiny little barrettes that only hold the front of your bangs back). The idea is to look polished and professional, not to advertise what a creative genius your hairdresser is.

While it may be appropriate to dress more casually for a second interview, you must still dress professionally. It’s much better to be too dressed up than too casual. This may sound like a lot of rules, but these are the generally acceptable guidelines you should follow when deciding what to wear to an interview. Dressing professionally shows respect for yourself, the interviewer, and the company. You may not have to dress like this everyday, but you are more likely to be taken seriously when you present yourself in a professional manner and take the time to attend to details

ONCE AGAIN I WOULD NOT ELABORATE MY OPINION WITH JUSTIFICATIONS  BUT I WOULD RATHER FOCUS ON A PRETTY OLD PROVERB, WHICH GOES LIKE THIS "YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION IS YOUR LAST IMPRESSION", THEREFORE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU MAINTAIN A FORMAL ATTIRE DURING AN INTERVIEW & FURTHERMORE I WOULD SUGGEST TO GO IN SUITED AND BOOTED, WHAT I MEAN IS WARE MATCHING BLAZER AND TROUSERS AS WELL  & THE LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST WARE FORMAL OXFORD STYLE SHOES, DON'T FORGET TO POLISH YOUR SHOES BEFORE THE INTERVIEW AS THE INTERVIEWER WOULD CHECK UPON YOU AS SOON AS YOU APPROACH HIM FROM TOP TO BOTTOM OF YOU ATTIRE & SHOES PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE DURING THE JOB INTERVIEW.

FOLLOWING THE ABOVE STATEMENT YOU MUST BE WELL GROOMED BEFORE APPEARING FOR THE INTERVIEW WHICH GOES FOR YOUR HAIR, NAILS, CLEAN SHAVING , USE OF THE PROPER DEODORANT  & WHATSOEVER APPLICABLE DURING THE INTERVIEW TIMINGS.

HENCEFORTH I WOULD RATHER SAY "CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS" & BELIEVE ME IF YOU FOLLOW & KEEP THESE SUGGESTED THINGS IN YOUR MIND, THEN YOU WONT GET A MUCH OF A HASSLE DURING THE INTERVIEW WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS CROSSING TOWARDS THE FIRST STAGE AND "TAKE THE FIRST STEP TO MOVE AHEAD". THANK YOU GENTLEMEN.

Before looking for a job, I made my resume and this way I was able to find a job. I was looking for a job on this site - https://salarship.com/ and I was invited to 5 interviews and in the end I got a job. I’ve been doing my internship for a week now, and I think I’ll succeed.

syed muhammad naeem
by syed muhammad naeem , Quality Control Officer , Pakistan Cables

There is a strong saying in our culture, Eat what you like Wear what others like. Hope that might help in your question about your body language clothing.

مها شرف
by مها شرف , معلمة لغة عربية , وزارة التربية السورية

I agree with specialties answers. Thanks.

Basem Hammami
by Basem Hammami , Marketing and Sales Manager, MENA , SIM Finland Oy

In a few words, if your clothes will increase your self-esteem toward a better communication and a better body language then do what is necessary to get to that goal. Please note that some people have allergy against perfumes and other fragrances! Also, keep in mind doing some research on the company you wanna have the interview in, if they have a uniform or a formal environment. (which means formal cloths all the time).

Finally, please note that everything counts in body language's rules, however, % of most effective mean of communications comes from you and your self-esteem so train hard and simulate your interview time after time until you get the best results. I did that every time I went to an interview, and believe me you will know when you are ready.

Body language has nothing to do with your clothes.

Wear something that makes you feel confortable and relaxe and for sure nothing "too much".

i.e: if you wear something you don't feel as "yours" and you are not familiar will certainly pop-up to your body language as a negative.

More Questions Like This

Do you need help in adding the right keywords to your CV? Let our CV writing experts help you.