NEW YORK— The job interview is a very tricky territory.
It’s one thing to craft the perfect cover letter and build the most convincing résumé, and another to show up looking like that fabulous person described in the paperwork.
But correspondence and CV rules aside, the consensus when it comes to acing that initial meeting is: Look presentable.
“The first five minutes are crucial,” says Jolina Mallari, human relations business partner of Microsoft Corp., who has also worked in recruitment at Unilever and has interviewed as many as 10 applicants in one day.
“While we don’t exactly look at your outfit and makeup, interviewers notice the overall effect and the impression you make.”
But with more and more jobs that require less (or zero) face time with clients—call centers and Internet companies, for instance, or offices with casual office cultures like in publishing and advertising, what constitutes as appropriate?
“First, you must research the company you’re applying for, so that you can match what you wear with the work environment,” Mallari explains.
“Some companies are quite strict; you can’t wear open-toe shoes and sleeveless tops.”
While others are much more lenient, Mallari encourages applicants to still strive for the smart casual approach and to wear corporate business attire.
“That’s not what you’ll be wearing to work every day, but dressing decently for the interview shows respect.”
Cosmopolitan Magazine fashion editor Katrina Dy offers a few creative tweaks when it comes to the proper interview ensemble.
“Inject your personality into the outfit by incorporating the fashionable element in small doses,” she says.
“[If you’re wearing] a blazer with a pencil skirt, why not try a full, ’50s-style skirt? Just choose a discreet print or subdued pattern so it doesn’t overwhelm.”
Dy shares the universal wardrobe rules for a job interview: “Nothing too short, nothing too revealing, nothing tight or ill-fitting. Jewelry shouldn’t jangle.”
Avoid heavy makeup
As for hair and makeup, avoid anything too heavy and distracting.
This simple approach works: Smooth on a sheer face base to lightly camouflage blemishes and even-out skin tone. Dust a bit of blush so you don’t look pale (especially if you start getting nervous). Use brown eyeliner on top lashlines (skip the bottom, they’re prone to smudging). Curl lashes and sweep on waterproof mascara.
“Definitely no red lipstick, or anything red for that matter,” cautions Mallari. “Red is a color that elicits strong emotions, and you wouldn’t want to subconsciously aggravate your interviewer, right?”
And speaking of keeping your interviewer in a state of calm and receptiveness to your wonderful credentials, watch out for wayward strands.
“Your hair shouldn’t fall on your face,” says Mallari, who recommends going for a neat ponytail, as this leaves you with less to inadvertently fiddle with as you discuss why you are perfect for the job.
Mariel Chua is the former beauty editor of Cosmopolitan, Seventeen and Ok! Magazine. She is now based in New York City. Visit NyMinuteNow.com.
(Original article link here.)
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