As a specialist recruitment company, we are often asked for our advice on dressing for success, particularly for an interview. While it would be nice to say that your appearance doesn’t matter and that recruiters and employers judge you on your obvious skills, we know that this is not the case. We highly recommend all recruits pay close attention to their appearance, whether they are applying for a job as a lifeguard, a beauty therapist, or as a senior manager!
It can be confusing to applicants in the leisure industry – those who already have jobs as lifeguards, or personal trainers, or beauty therapists obviously don’t wear business suits. It is said that you should dress for the job you want, not the one you have. This is great advice if you happen to work in an office based role or similar, but is terrible advice for anyone else. You may want to work as a zoo keeper, but it doesn’t mean you should turn up to interview in overalls and wellies!
We say you should always err on the side of caution in an interview situation. You should wear smart clothing. It must be clean and neat. Most leisure industry jobs are public facing and the employer needs to know that you know how to present yourself appropriately. The keyword here is “appropriately”. If you work in creative industries, for example as an advertising executive, or fashion designer, then you need to give the employer the impression that you are not overly mainstream and are an appropriate person for creative thought and practice. In leisure, it’s all about self-presentation. It’s highly appropriate then to be smart, clean, and tidy, and show that you have taken some care and effort for the interview.
First impressions are essential – people will often form a snap judgement about you before you’ve even sat down. You need to look professional for others to take you seriously as a professional – so that also means no chewing gum, and taking off your sunglasses please!
Clothing is highly important, but don’t neglect your hair and face. Men should be clean-shaven, or at least have tidy facial hair! With jewellery, less is more. If you smoke, please wait until after the interview to avoid clinging aromas.
So remember this……..
There is some more brilliant interview style advice here from Forbes Magazine. Yes it’s American but some advice is universal.
This video, also from the US, features a HR professional and a business stylist who share great tips for dressing appropriately for work and the importance of dressing to impress at an interview. Advice that stands the test of time.
And if you’re looking abroad for work? This article from Recruitment Buzz could be vital.
Good luck!