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What to Wear to a Client Interview

Written by: Amy Elizabeth Casson

Article Overview: In today's tough economy, you need to use every tool you have in order to stand out and win the business. Your clothes say a lot about you and what your company has to offer. Look polished and put together and you have a fighting chance of being a top contender. Wear clothes that make you stand out for the wrong reasons and you are risking failure. Read the attached article and learn more about what is and is not considered appropriate for certain industries.

What to Wear to a Client Interview

What to Wear to An Interview with Potential Clients

A fabulous work ethic doesn’t come across during an interview. But a polished image does.

Potential clients will notice your smile first, followed by your body language, and then your business attire. We know that an unpolished appearance can sabotage your chances of being hired (regardless of how unjust this may seem)

When you run your own business, you are the product and your clothing is your packaging. As such, your clothing needs to convey messages that support your overall personal brand (and these messages need to be conveyed quickly).

Deciding what to wear for a client interview can be a challenging task. You need to take several factors into consideration: location of the client (rural vs. urban), business culture (business casual vs. business formal), job title of the potential client (executive vs. entry level), and personal brand (messages you want to convey).

Here is a list of industry sectors and a description of what is considered appropriate interview clothes. These guidelines may vary depending on the factors outlined above.

Retail Industry:
A retail salesperson’s appearance should represent the merchandise she/he is selling. For example, I used to work at Ports, a high-end women’s clothing store (I’m dating myself here). During my interview, I wore a Ports skirt and top. The message that I wanted to send is that I respect and enjoy wearing their clothes and would be thrilled to be a part of their sales team.

Your potential retailer client is looking for someone who can fit in yet can still deliver the goods. Interviewing with a sporting wear retailer? Best to choose business casual clothing versus a stiff business suit. Business Casual attire includes:

Women:
· Dress pants or khakis
· Sweater set or blouse that works with the pants
· Flat shoe or kitten heeled shoe
· Nylons or thin socks

Men:
· Dress pants or khakis
· Button-downed shirt
· Loafer
· Socks that match the pants
· Belt that matches the loafer


Service Industry:
Those working in the service industry typically wear uniforms. Uniforms are crisp and clean which means your interview attire should be crisp and clean as well.
· Crisp button-down shirt
· Well-ironed khakis or dress pants
· Well-polished loafers
· Neat hair and nails
· Minimal accessories

Advertising:
Dress professionally with a creative flair. Research your client’s dress code first - the more conservative the firm, the more conservative the dress.
Women:
· Skirt suit
· Showcase your flair for creativity by playing with fabrics and colours.
· Incorporate fun accessories, especially if you choose to wear a “conservative” suit. Fun accessories will suggest you have the ability to be creative.
· Basic pump shoe or sling back

Men:
· Sports jacket
· Dress pants
· Mock turtleneck or button-down collar
· Chunkier soled-shoes (to match the “chunkier” fabric of the sports jacket)
· Belt (match to shoes)

Law and Banking:
Law and banking are considered the last bastions of formal business attire. To err on the side of caution, I would recommend wearing the following to a client interview in both law and banking:

Women:
· Skirt suit in black, grey or navy
· Skirt should hit the knees
· Jacket should be a traditional two or three button jacket
· White or cream shirt
· Pearls or minimal, conservative accessories
· Basic Pump (match the hemline of the skirt)
· Neutral nylons

Men:
· Suit in black, grey or navy. Single and double-breasted jackets are acceptable.
· White shirt (well-pressed)
· Silk tie with a rep or pin dot pattern (tie knot should fit with the collar spread)
· Oxford leather tie-up shoe
· Silk socks that match the trouser, not the shoe


Internet:
Dress codes within the internet sector are edgier and more creative than other industries. It’s always wise to dress a little higher on the dress code scale for a client interview, but you have to be careful in this industry where almost anything goes.

Men:
· Khakis
· Shirt
· Loafer (chunkier shoe)

Women:
· Skirt or pant with creative flair
· Chunkier shoes
· Accessories that demonstrate creativity

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Article Tags: brand messages, business attire, business casual attire, business casual clothing, business culture, business suit, client executive, client interview, clothing store, culture business, dress pants, formal job, industry sectors, personal brand, retail salesperson, suit business, urban business, what to wear to an interview, women dress, work ethic
Referred by: http://www.gloriastarr.com



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