Dress for Success

By MAYA CARPENTER

It is likely that one will find more women going on interviews now more than ever due to the perilous times, but who says that they don’t think about the right attire that would land them the perfect job?

“Depending on the industry, there are exceptions to every rule in dressing for a job interview, or simply dressing for work,” says Stacy-Ann Francis, a human resource specialist for the American Heart Association Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.

“It’s OK to wear a business casual outfit such as a skirt and a nice top if you are going on an interview for a customer service position.”

A suit may not be as necessary for that type of job versus a business setting, she said.

Typical wear for an interview is a navy blue or black suit with
closed-toe shoes, but it sounds like women have deviated from the
typical just because women are switching occupations.

“After living in Atlanta, I’ve noticed a lot of women are opting
for open-toed shows rather than putting on a pump, which I prefer to
wear,” Francis said. “If there is anything women should do,” she says,
“it’s wear closed-toe shoes.”

A recent trend is the ‘city-short suit,’ which is basically a
suit made with shorts instead of a pant or skirt. It usually comes to
knee length, she said.

“That is something you would see if a person already had a job,
not for an interview,” says Francis. “Some trends that you won’t see in
any industry are tapered suits and baggy suits.”

“People are wearing tailored suits that fits their bodies,” she points out.

But in most industries a regular navy blue or black suit is the
norm, “because it’s not going to be the clothes that get you the job,”
says Liz Layton, marketing and events coordinator for Florida Gulf
Coast University career services department in Ft. Myers, Florida.

In addition to that she said women should only wear less than
two-inch heels. For a business setting that is the norm because “you
don’t want them (employers) to remember what you wore — if it stands
out then it’s probably a no-no.”

Now once a woman has gotten the job, depending on the company,
the dress code can relax somewhat. A flared dress pantsuit with a nice,
sexy top underneath can also be an after-hours outfit. “Since it’s
nearing the end of spring and entering the summer, you will see more
women wearing white or linen pants suits or khaki skirt suits, along
with more pinks and aquas,” says Francis.