More than 100 people apply for the average job. Of those people, about 20 earn an interview for the position offered. But of course, only one person walks away with a new job from that 100 in the end.
Do you want to increase your chances of being the last person left standing at the end of a company’s hiring process?
You can do it by making sure your cover letter and resume stand out before submitting them. You can also do it by preparing for your interview.
Elevating your wardrobe with incredible job interview outfits won’t hurt, either. When you show up wearing something that catches an interviewer’s eye, it’ll help to set you apart from your competition.
Selecting the right shirt to wear to an interview is especially important. Take a look at some tips that will help choose a shirt that’ll command respect and attention.
Choose the Best Brand
There are hundreds of different brands out there that specialize in manufacturing shirts that would be perfect as part of any job interview outfits. You can find everything from cheap dress shirts that’ll only last for a few wears to designer shirts.
If possible, it’s best to invest in designer duds that’ll last for a long time as opposed to shirts that will need replacing in a few months. Even if you land the job that you’re interviewing for and don’t need to use your job interview outfits anymore, you can still wear designer shirts to work.
Look for trusted brands known for producing high-quality shirts. They might cost a little bit extra than other shirts, but they’ll be well worth the investment on your part.
Consider Different Colors
Most people choose to play it safe when looking at the different dress shirt colors that are available. They tend to go with classic white dress shirts when assembling job interview outfits.
There’s nothing wrong with taking this approach. White dress shirts have become staples in offices all across the world, which means you’ll look like you’re going to fit right in when you attend an interview with one on.
That being said, don’t feel like you have to go with a plain white dress shirt for a job interview. There are also lots of other colors that you can choose from, including lighter shades of gray and blue.
But be warned: You should not wear a shirt featuring a color that’s too bright. If you show up in, say, an orange shirt, your shirt is going to be the only thing people are talking about when you leave.
You want people to focus on what you have to say and what you can offer to a company, not what color shirt you decided to wear. Go with a neutral color shirt that won’t cause much of a stir when you wear it.
Stay Away From Patterns
You should stay away from more than just bright colors when you’re putting together job interview outfits. You also want to avoid patterns at all costs and opt for solid colors instead.
Much like with bright colors, the patterns that you have on a dress shirt are going to end up distracting the person who is interviewing you. They’re going to spend your entire interview focusing on your shirt rather than the words that are coming out of your mouth.
There is one exception to this rule, though: If you happen to be applying for some kind of creative job that will allow you to dress casually for work, you may be able to use patterns to your advantage. Graphic designers, magazine editors, and others in a creative field can sometimes pull off the patterned look to perfection.
Keep in mind that you will be taking a risk when you go with a patterned shirt over one with a solid color. But that could be a risk worth taking in some instances.
Find the Right Size
Before you buy dress shirts that you plan to wear with your job interview outfits, always have your measurements taken so that the shirts fit you like a glove.
Some people get scared off by the idea of visiting a store that will take measurements for you. They think that it means they’re going to have to pay an arm and a leg for a single shirt when they get that kind of service.
In reality, you can have your measurements taken almost anywhere dress shirts are sold. Even most major department stores will send someone out to measure your neck, your arm length, and your chest.
It only takes a minute or two to get measured for dress shirts. But it will make all the difference in the world when you have it done.
You won’t have to worry about swimming in the dress shirts that you buy. You also won’t have to worry about popping the buttons on them the first time you put them on.
Your new shirts will fit well and will give people the right impression of you. You’ll look a whole lot more stylish to others when you take the time to get measured for shirts.
Pick Out a Matching Tie
Picking out the right dress shirts for your job interview outfits is essential. But choosing the right ties to go along with them is equally important. Your tie will many times be the first thing an interviewer sees when sitting down with you.
The color of your tie obviously shouldn’t clash with the color of your shirt. The two should complement one another without being too “matchy-matchy.”
You can also use your tie to send a strong message to whoever is going to be interviewing you. Here are some tie colors that might be a good fit for you and your dress shirt:
- Blue, is a color that lets others know you work hard and can be trusted
- Green, is a color that makes those around you feel calm and at peace
- Red, is a color that connotates power and control (just be careful about wearing this color if you’re not applying for a management position)
This is a good place for a person to work a pattern into the mix, too. Don’t choose a pattern that’s distracting, but something subtle could make the right impression on your interviewer.
Think About the Rest of Your Outfit
Prior to snatching up a bunch of dress shirts for your job interview outfits, it’s good to carefully consider what will look best with those outfits. You don’t want to purchase shirts that aren’t going to work well with the suits that you have.
There are several suit colors that work better than others when you’re interviewing for jobs. Your suits should be:
- Black
- Gray
- Navy
- Brown
Your suits should not be red, green, orange, or any other crazy color. When you have those colors on, it won’t even matter what kind of dress shirt you’re wearing.
Your shirts should complement the suit colors that you have. They should also work well with the color of your belt, your shoes, and even your socks. You want it to look like you intentionally put your job interview outfits together to look their best.
Pull Out an Iron or Steamer
You have a suit that was just delivered to you by the dry cleaners. You have the perfect dress shirt to go along with it. You’re all ready to go!
Well, almost. Before you start getting dressed, make sure you’re 100 percent ready for your big interview by pulling out an iron or steamer and using it on your shirt.
If your dress shirt is brand new, you might be tempted to throw it right on without ironing or steaming it first. You might also be tempted to throw your dress shirt into the bathroom with you when you’re taking a hot shower to get any wrinkles out.
There’s a chance no one will notice if you have a wrinkle or two in your shirt. But why risk it?
Your goal when assembling job interview outfits should be to put together outfits that will wow people without distracting them. Any distractions could derail an interview and make it harder for you to get a job.
Five minutes of ironing or steaming a shirt is well worth the extra effort on your part.
Buy the Best Job Interview Outfits Today
No matter what school you attended or how accomplished you are in your industry, it’ll be hard getting a job if you bomb your interview. That’s why it’s so important to prepare for it ahead of time.
It’s also why it’s so important to buy the best job interview outfits for all the interviews you’ll be going on. The last thing you want is for what you wear to an interview to prevent you from getting a job you really want.
Do you need help finding the right jobs to apply for in the first place? Browse through our online magazine to get some fun job suggestions.
