Dos and Don’ts: how to dress for success

First impressions matter: you may have a brain the size of a planet and people skills to rival Mother Teresa, but if you turn up to an important meeting looking like something the cat dragged in, don’t expect people to listen to what you have to say. Image consultant Jon-Michail, the CEO of Image Group International, says your work wardrobe is a key part of your personal branding. Appearance is particularly important at the job interview stage. A US study, reported in Forbes, found interviewers decided within the first 10 seconds of meeting job applicants whether they were right for the job.

It’s (almost) impossible to overdress for a job interview. Sure, the company may have casual Fridays, but don’t assume that means you can turn up to the job interview in frayed jeans and a tatty T-shirt. Nina Mapson Bone, the general manager of recruitment for Chandler Macleod recruiters in NSW and the ACT, says she can think of hundreds of occasions when candidates have missed out on jobs because they have dressed too casually but only one case where someone was overdressed. She says in most cases, a dark suit is pretty much the perfect interview outfit.

Think about your accessories: Even the most elegant suit can be brought undone by scuffed shoes and a handbag held together with safety pins. Mapson Bone says once you’ve landed a job, you can be more flamboyant with your wardrobe choices, but it pays to dress “a level up”.

Aim for smart, not sexy: There’s a time and place for sexy, and the experts agree it’s generally not at work. Jon-Michail suggests asking yourself: “Is this outfit appropriate for Friday night work drinks?”

Forget about the latest fashions: Unless you’re working in a fashion-forward industry, it’s probably best to save the floral onesie for a night out. Jon-Michail says you can’t go wrong sticking to a palette of black, navy, charcoal, teal and silver. “They work year in, year out.” Mapson Bone recalls being taken aside by a boss early in her career and advised to tone down her fashion choices. “She said something like, ‘I see your career progressing fairly rapidly and I don’t want your clothing to hold you back.’