By Noelle Capobianco
 

Making a first impression initially starts as soon as you walk into that room with the employer so you want to make sure that you are making the right impression. As soon as you walk into that room, the recruiter will judge you based on what your attire and dressing. You want to make sure you tick all the boxes from the tidiness of your hair, to your clothes and down to your shoes. So you want to make sure that what you wearing screams out hire me to the recruiter by dressing professionally. Therefore, how you look and how you dress plays a major role in first impression.

 

Would you hire someone with holes in their jeans or someone wearing a tailored suit? Even the most simple of items of dressing can say a lot about you.

Here are tips on how to dress to make the right impression.

 

For Men

Men have it easy to make a great impression as they have a simpler dress code than women. Men just have to ensure that the fit of the clothes is well tailored. No recruiter wants to see a sloppy man walk into the interview as it alludes tot disorganization, confusion and unreliability.

To dress for the professional work environment no matter what the environment is, keep it simple and well fitted.

 

The main points for men to dress well for the recruiter are:

• Suit (solid color – black, navy or dark grey) well tailored
• Long sleeve shirt (white or coordinated with the suit)
• Black pants
• Belt
• Tie
• Dark socks, conservative leather shoes
• Little or no jewelry
• Neat, professional hairstyle
• Limit the aftershave
• Well groomed face- little facial hair, if so facial hair trim it.
• Neatly trimmed nails
• Portfolio or briefcase

 

For women

Women have a little but more trouble dressing to have the right attire when meeting with the recruiter. Women have to take into account a lot more factors as they have longer hair and different body shapes. For women the ultimate goal is to dress for your body professionally. No recruiter wants to see pants that are too tight or a dress that is ill fitting as it alludes to the fact of insecurity,  poor confidence and disorganization as well as alluding to the recruiter that they if they cant dress for themselves as a responsibility, how can they take on more responsibility.

 

For women, they key is to keep it simple, be comfortable and dress for your shape that is most flattering.

 

They key tips for women are:

• Suit (navy, black or dark grey) that is well tailored and flattering on the body. The best advice for this is by a shop assistant for the honest truth.
• Clothes that are not too tight. Not busting out at the seams or buttons as it can make the recruiter uncomfortable.
• The suit skirt should be long enough so you can sit down comfortably.
• Coordinated blouse that is not sheer and preferably buttoned up.
• Conservative shoes meaning no large heels but more of a kitten heel that are closed.
• Limited jewelry (no dangling earrings or arms full of bracelets). No jewelry is better than cheap jewelry
• Professional hairstyle being tied back and away from face. If  you have short hair make sure it is neat and well groomed such as being straightened.
• Neutral pantyhose if wearing a skirt with no holes. If you do get holes the best thing it too probably take them off or bring a spare pair
• Black pants that are well fitted and of a good length such as just above the ankle or at the ankle.
• A black blazer that is well fitted.
• Light make-up and perfume
• Neatly manicured clean nails
• Portfolio or briefcase

 

Dressing by following these simple tips means that you will elude confidence and professionalism to the recruiter making the right impression to land the job. Always walk in with a smile and carry yourself tall to project confidence so you and the recruiter feel at ease and comfortable.