Office Hours What to Wear If You Havent Had a Job Interview In a Long Time

Office Hurs What to Wear If You Havent Had a Job Interview In a Long Time Welcome to Office Hours. Were so glad you dropped by. This column is an initiative of The Fine Line and Fairygodboss created to address the career questions of women 40 and older. The Fine Line is a lifestyle publication that provides cutting-edge guidance and practical resources for women who are redefining what it means to grow older.Each month, a Fairygodboss expert will answer a question from one of our readers. If you have a question about finding a job, starting a new career, or an issue in the workplace, please write us at hellothefinelinemag.com.QIts been a long time since Ive been on a job bewerberinterview. What should I wear?AIf youre going on your first job interview after being out of the workforce for a while, youre elend alone. Many women take time off from particular industries or work in general to raise families, travel, and pursue other interests. And though job interviews can be intimidatin g, here are some pointers that will help with the age-old dilemma of what to wear.Unless youre interviewing for old-money positions in, say, finance or banking, you may not need to wear a business suit. Many companies today embracebusiness casual, and if youre interviewing for a job in a sphere like technology or communications, you dont want to look as though you dont fit the modern, casual culture. You do want dress a bit more professional than the average employee, because youre looking to stand out and impress your interviewers. To look professional for your interview, pair slacks with a blouse or skirt, or wear a dress. Do not wearjeans, a crop top, a T-shirt, or a tank top. Dont wearflip-flops, heavy makeup, or clinking jewelry.Its always best to play it safe with well-fitted separates in neutral or soft colors, comfortable shoes (classic pumps or neat flats), and natural makeup with little bling. Once youve got the job, you can express yourself more freely through clothing co lors and jewelry, but during a job interview, you dont want to be remembered by your outfit you want to be remembered by your resume and personality.What you wear to an interview doesnt really matter, so long as you keep it professional. In a SmartRecruiters survey, 78 percent of hired candidates rated themselves as average or slightly unattractive, whereas 66 percent of rejected candidates considered themselves attractive or very attractive. What does matter, however, is havinga tailored resumeand spending time researching the company before your interview.When it comes down to it, what you wear to an interview isnt going to make your chances of getting the job, but it can certainly break those chances. Keep it smart and simple. Focus on the interview itself, and no one will even notice the shoes on your feet.If you missed The Fine Lines profile on Fairygodboss co-founder Romy Newman,read it here.