Seven Things You Don't Wear to a Job Interview

The big day has finally arrived; it's the job interview. What do you wear? Here are seven suggestions of things that you would NOT wear to a job interview.

1. Don't wear seductive clothing. You do not want to give the employer the impression that all your talents are anywhere but in the credentials on your resume. Dress professionally and set an example of competency for the position that you are trying out for.
2. Don't wear perfumes or colognes. Since so many people suffer from allergies, numerous businesses are establishing a “fragrance free” environment and have signs posted throughout their premises. If you violate this directive, it shows that you either don't pay attention to your surroundings or that you don't care - a sure way of losing your candidacy for the job.
3. Don't wear the sound of chewing gum or candies. Businesses give great value to their customer and clientele service, and prefer representatives who can speak clearly and professionally. No one wants to see the gum shifting around in your mouth as you're talking, and it would be assumed that if you do it at the job interview that you would do it anywhere.
4. Don't wear contacts for the first time. You may feel that contacts make you look better than glasses, but if you've never worn them before, this is not the place to start. You don't want your eyes watering everywhere with your make-up running down your face, or to be fidgeting because they're uncomfortable. Busy employers expect you to be prepared for the interview and don't have time on their schedule to wait for you to be able to see the tests or to focus on the them.
5. Don't wear the smell of cigarette smoke on your clothes. Most employers prohibit smoking on their premises and many are personally affected by second-hand smoke. It could create an offence to them, but it could also tell them that you're going to be dependent on your breaks, giving your work efforts second place.
6. Don't dress for the backyard. A common attitude developing is that “this is me” and it's expected that employers would see you for who you are and just accept you. However, employers set the standards for dress code and they expect you to conform to them and dress accordingly.
7. Don't wear your technology on your sleeve. The interview time is usually very short and is the essential key to getting the job or missing it. Employers expect your undivided attention for that few minutes and they can take great offence to your cell phone ringing, or to hearing music from your Ipod in the background.

Good luck!