Sequins and spandex not the thing to wear for a job interview

BY NEIL HAESLER, POSTMEDIA NEWS

Showing up for a job interview wearing a cat suit is going to get you a few laughs – maybe. But more likely it will get you thrown out on your pointy little ears.

OfficeTeam, a staffing service specializing in temporary placements, found in a recent survey that people show up for job interviews in a confounding array of costumes.

OfficeTeam asked HR managers to recount some of the odd attire they saw on applicants. Interviewers reported a stunning variety of people who didn’t seem clear on the concept of impressing a perspective employer.

Take the person who showed up wearing a blanket as a shawl. Or the woman wearing a skirt made of plastic. And, yes, someone in a catsuit.

“Although these examples seem absurd, it’s easy to make more subtle mistakes when selecting interview attire, particularly among those new to the job hunt,” Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam, said.

“Ultimately, you want to project professionalism and confidence and ensure your outfit isn’t distracting or causing employers to question your judgment.”

Some seem to have missed that memo.

According to OfficeTeam, these flashy outfits were more fitting for a night out than an interview:
• a micro-mini and fishnet stockings;
• a tube top;
• a leather vest with no shirt; and
• a bandana and torn jeans.

Job candidates should always dress to impress the interviewer, not the crowd on the bus on your way to the interview. So wearing a sweatsuit – or a Star Trek T-shirt – is out.

Interviewers have seen everything when it comes to sartorial splendour, including people who might have been channelling the 1980s when they showed up in jeans and suspenders, tank tops and jumpsuits.

Or, the “good sports” who wore baseball caps, jogging suits and even basketball uniforms.

OfficeTeam’s advice: don’t assume you can dress down, even if a company has a casual atmosphere. Don’t wear anything that is uncomfortable and don’t show up ‘in clothing that is wrinkled, stained or torn.

And definitely don’t show up wearing a feline fashion statement – unless it’s an audition for Cats.

Some of the more interesting attire managers reported seeing at job interviews: a swimsuit and coverup; Bermuda shorts; a sundress and flip-flops; a Hawaiian shirt and jeans; exercise clothing; a tie-dye T-shirt from the ’80s; a cat suit; a top held up with a large safety pin; spandex; and leather pants and cowboy boots.

© Postmedia News. Article appears on www.working.com.