Interview Dress for Men and Women
• Conservative two-piece business suit (solid dark blue or grey is best)
• Conservative long-sleeved shirt/blouse (white is best, pastel is next best)
• Clean, polished conservative shoes
• Well-groomed hairstyle
• Clean, trimmed fingernails
• Minimal cologne or perfume
• Empty pockets--no bulges or tinkling coins
• No gum, candy or cigarettes
• Light briefcase or portfolio case
• No visible body piercing (nose rings, eyebrow rings, etc.)
Interview Dress for Men
• Necktie should be silk with a conservative pattern
• Dark shoes (black lace-ups are best)
• Dark socks (black is best)
• Get a haircut; short hair always fares best in interviews
• No beards (unless you are interviewing for a job as a lumberjack!)
• Mustaches are a possible negative, but if you must, make sure it is neat and trimmed
• No rings other than wedding ring or college ring
• No earrings (if you normally wear one, take it out)
Interview Dress for Women
• Always wear a suit with a jacket; no dresses
• Shoes with conservative heels
• Conservative hosiery at or near skin color (and no runs!)
• No purses, small or large; carry a briefcase instead
• If you wear nail polish (not required), use clear or a conservative color
• Minimal use of makeup (it should not be too noticeable)
• No more than one ring on each hand
• One set of earrings only
One final note on Interview Dress:
While it goes without saying that your interview clothes should be neat and clean, very few interviewees give the same time and attention to their shoes. Shoes? Yes, shoes. I am aware of at least one Corporate Recruiter who forms first impressions based solely (pardon the pun) on shoes. This person does not have a shoe fetish - he subjectively judges that those who pay attention to details like their shoes are also likely to be diligent in their work life. And it is not just that person's opinion. Many have said that you can judge a person by their shoes. You will find that many ex-military officers (many of whom have found their way into management positions in corporate America) are especially aware of a person's shoes. It is not enough to be clean, pressed, and ironed. Make sure your shoes are conservative, clean, and polished.
From India
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5• Conservative two-piece business suit (solid dark blue or grey is best)
• Conservative long-sleeved shirt/blouse (white is best, pastel is next best)
• Clean, polished conservative shoes
• Well-groomed hairstyle
• Clean, trimmed fingernails
• Minimal cologne or perfume
• Empty pockets--no bulges or tinkling coins
• No gum, candy or cigarettes
• Light briefcase or portfolio case
• No visible body piercing (nose rings, eyebrow rings, etc.)
Interview Dress for Men
• Necktie should be silk with a conservative pattern
• Dark shoes (black lace-ups are best)
• Dark socks (black is best)
• Get a haircut; short hair always fares best in interviews
• No beards (unless you are interviewing for a job as a lumberjack!)
• Mustaches are a possible negative, but if you must, make sure it is neat and trimmed
• No rings other than wedding ring or college ring
• No earrings (if you normally wear one, take it out)
Interview Dress for Women
• Always wear a suit with a jacket; no dresses
• Shoes with conservative heels
• Conservative hosiery at or near skin color (and no runs!)
• No purses, small or large; carry a briefcase instead
• If you wear nail polish (not required), use clear or a conservative color
• Minimal use of makeup (it should not be too noticeable)
• No more than one ring on each hand
• One set of earrings only
One final note on Interview Dress:
While it goes without saying that your interview clothes should be neat and clean, very few interviewees give the same time and attention to their shoes. Shoes? Yes, shoes. I am aware of at least one Corporate Recruiter who forms first impressions based solely (pardon the pun) on shoes. This person does not have a shoe fetish - he subjectively judges that those who pay attention to details like their shoes are also likely to be diligent in their work life. And it is not just that person's opinion. Many have said that you can judge a person by their shoes. You will find that many ex-military officers (many of whom have found their way into management positions in corporate America) are especially aware of a person's shoes. It is not enough to be clean, pressed, and ironed. Make sure your shoes are conservative, clean, and polished.
From India
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Why don't you Indianize your topic? How many women go in suits for an interview and that with skin-colored stockings? If you have to reach a major segment, talk in terms of Churidhars, sarees. And where are the lumberjacks applying for jobs? What I want to put across is topics from the net can be irrelevant in our context.
I saw this same detail in a college workbook handed over by the company I did freelancing for... The college had a dress code of only churidhars [conservative ones]... The section on Interview Dress code was lost on them.
Lisa
From India, Madras
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I saw this same detail in a college workbook handed over by the company I did freelancing for... The college had a dress code of only churidhars [conservative ones]... The section on Interview Dress code was lost on them.
Lisa
From India, Madras
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@Lisa Isaac, I completely agree with your point of view. Even I am of the same opinion.
@Ashwin007, the dress code, if mentioned, needs to be adhered to. Else, I guess in the Indian context, unless required, warm western clothing will be a killer in the summer heat at least. Grooming is essential, and I agree with that, be it an interview or any related occasion. Moreover, I have seen Vice Presidents coming in simple clothes for interviews, as it's not only the envelope but the content inside the envelope too that matters. Regards, SS
From India, Mumbai
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@Ashwin007, the dress code, if mentioned, needs to be adhered to. Else, I guess in the Indian context, unless required, warm western clothing will be a killer in the summer heat at least. Grooming is essential, and I agree with that, be it an interview or any related occasion. Moreover, I have seen Vice Presidents coming in simple clothes for interviews, as it's not only the envelope but the content inside the envelope too that matters. Regards, SS
From India, Mumbai
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Formal Dress Code.pps
Dress Code.doc