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140 Nail the Job Interview!
business look. The most powerful attire for a male to wear to an interview
is a suit. Let’s look at power suits in terms of color, fabric, and style. The
suit colors that convey the greatest power are navy blue or medium to
dark gray. Usually the darker the shade, the greater amount of authority
it conveys to the wearer. However, you would do well to avoid black,
which in our society is a color for funeral or formal attire; also, it conveys
so much authority as to be threatening to an interviewer. If you want your
attire to convey a bit less authority, then navy, gray, camel, or beige are
other acceptable colors for a business suit. Still less power could be
conveyed by choosing to wear a sport coat and slacks rather than a suit.
Again, you have a range from which to choose and still be within the
bounds of acceptable business attire. A navy sport jacket with medium
gray slacks is a strong but less authoritative look than the matched jacket
and slacks. You must male your choice based on your goals and what you
believe to be appropriate to the situation and the job for which you are
interviewing. There may be times when you purposefully select this
slightly less professional, yet acceptable, choice and choose not to wear a
suit. Remember, though, the interviewer expects you will be on your best
behavior, and this applies to your appearance as well as how you conduct
yourself. Most applicants choose to dress as if they were after a job several
levels above the one for which they are actually interviewing.
Your suit should be made of a natural fiber. A good blend of a natural
fiber with some synthetic is acceptable as long as it has the look of the
natural fiber. The very best suit fabrics are wool, wool blends, or fabrics
that look like them. Even for the warmer summer months, men can find
summer weight wool suits that are comfortable and look good. They are
your best buy.
The style of your suit should be classic - well-tailored and well-styled.
Avoid suits that appear trendy unless you are applying for a job in a field
where being on the forefront of fashion is valued. A conservative suit that
has a timeless classic styling will serve you best not only for the interview,
but it will give you several years of wear once you land the job. Select a
shirt color that is lighter than the color of your suit. White long-sleeved
shirts still are most acceptable with a business suit, although many pin
stripes or solid colors are seen in the hallways of companies today.
A silk tie will look better than other fabrics. Male sure the width is
current and select a pattern that goes with the rest of your outfit, loolts
good on you, and is fairly conservative. Dark, classic shoes and dark soclts