Integrityjobs.com ‘Dress for Success Advice for 2025’ by John O’Neil Sr. VP
Imagine if you can that you are a recruiter and you have scheduled an interview for the most qualified candidate with your most prized client. After promoting your candidates’ abilities, doing the research, verifying employment, asking the right questions, doing a preliminary background check, completing virtual and/or in-person interviews and then to find out after the interview that your most qualified candidate showed up at the client looking like they just crawled out of bed or even worse.
I can tell you in my 38 years of being in the Staffing Industry this happens every day. For a recruiter this scenario is a financial disaster and a total time waste as most recruiters are paid a base salary and a commission for every placed candidate. Not only that, it is likely to have damaged the recruiter / client relationship as trust in the recruiter’s judgement is suspect.
The Question that all Job Seekers need to ask themselves is…Do I really want this Career Opportunity or Not?
If the answer is…Yes! What must a Job Seeker do to get the Job Offer?
Please Research the Company you want to work for. The more you know about the Company will make it easier for you to carry on a conversation with the hiring manager if you get the opportunity to interview. Your basic Company knowledge will leave a positive impression on the interviewer.
Obviously, you first must have the education and work experience to be able to qualify for any position that you desire.
The First Thing that the Employer Sees is Your Resume.
If your resume is a mess, loaded up with spelling and punctuation errors, incomplete sentences, missing information (dates of employment, your address, cell number and email) do not expect a good outcome! These resumes end up getting tossed into the trash can.
Well-Constructed Resumes Are the Best!
If you have a good resume without the aforementioned issues then you have shot at getting an interview. The resume has to be good with all of the right keywords and experiences that the employer is looking for. Do not create information that is Invented as it will be a sad day when you are caught lying.
Now you have an interview after all of the pre-screening…Now what?
Make sure that you have the Name of the Interviewer, Employer Address, Phone Number and the Date and Time of the interview.
Be On Time or be Early!
This is the second good impression; the first being your resume.
Dress for Your Success Here We Go!
No matter what position that you are interviewing for make sure that you are physically clean. That means your breath, body, hair, shoes and what you are wearing.
Nothing ends an interview quicker if you don’t look and smell clean or you are wearing dirty or worn clothing.
First meetings are your first and only chance to make a good impression so you have to dress like you really want to work for that employer.
If you are not sure how to dress, I recommend calling into the employer and asking them what you should wear to an interview. Sounds crazy but the response might surprise you since may employers are more relaxed than only a few years ago.
What happens if I don’t have the right clothes for an interview?
I can honestly say that I borrowed from family, friends, shopped at Goodwill and the Salvation Army Stores when I did not have the money to buy brand new.
Suggestions for What to Wear and How to Look
I recommend wearing conservative neutral colors like navy, black, gray, or beige as they provide a professional appearance and have a relaxed calming effect on the interviewer.
Remember that a professional appearance is appreciated by all employers.
If you are unsure how to dress always appear to look like you are worth a million bucks like you are Dressing for Success.
Your appearance might include wearing a suit and tie, sports jacket and dress shirt, blouse, dress pants, dress slacks, dresses, skirts, blazers, shoes, loafers, flats or high heels.
Men: A clean shave, trimmed beard or mustache with an appropriate hair style is more impressive than the cave-man look.
Women: Make-up is a personal choice as is your particular coloring and hair style. Perfumes – sometimes less is just right for this occasion.
Body Jewelry / Piercings is a personal choice to display on your face, neck, chest, arms and legs. Remember that every employer has different requirements to include safety standards. Remain open-minded should they ask you if you are willing to remove them.
*** Please keep in mind that most employers do not need to have distractions in the workplace so we recommend that you lean towards a more conservative look. Again, every employer has their own opinion about how their employees look and dress as employees are representatives of their company image.
Recommended Items of Clothing Not to Wear
Unless you are aware or have prior permission form the employer, avoid wearing the following:
Worn Out Jeans / Holey Jeans, Torn Clothing, Revealing Clothing, Tennis Shoes, Flip Flops, Shorts, Bathing Suits, and Athletic Wear. – Never go Bare Foot!
During the interview make sure that you are truthful, try to answer every question and ask questions as well as this shows an interest in their company.
Lastly, always thank the employer for the opportunity to interview with them acknowledging your interest in the position and send them a note or email as well.
Hopefully, this information helps you get that Dream Job!
Send Us a Resume Today! [email protected]
John O’Neil Sr. Vice President
Integrity Technical Services, Inc. dba Integrityjobs.com
website: www.initegrityjobs.com
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER