Dress For Success

For Women

The standard job interviewing attire for women is a conservative dark navy or gray skirted wool blend suit. Job experts and employers seem split on the notion of pants suits, so a skirted suit is a safer choice. Other conservative colors such as beige or brown are also acceptable. A blazer with blouse and skirt is a possible second choice to a suit. Skirt length should be a little below the knee and never shorter than above the knee -- no Ally McBeal's here. Avoid wearing a dress. Blouses should be cotton or silk and should be white, or some other light color. Shoes should be low-heeled.

Make-up should be minimal, with lipstick and nail polish conservative tones. Pantyhose should be flawless (no runs) and conservative in color. You should opt for a briefcase rather than a purse.

For Men

The standard job interviewing attire for men is a conservative dark navy or gray two-piece business suit (of natural fibers, such as wool, if possible), a white long-sleeved button-down dress shirt, a conservative silk tie (that matches the colors in your suit), and nicely polished dress shoes. If you do not own a suit, or the company is a bit more informal, then you should wear a conservative sports coat (no plaids or wild patterns and preferably a dark color), nicely pressed dress slacks, a white long-sleeved button-down shirt, a conservative silk tie, and nicely polished dress shoes. Your belt should match your shoes.

If you have a beard or mustache, they should be neatly trimmed. If you have any visible body parts pierced, most experts recommend removing all jewelry, including earrings.