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What Should You Wear for Your College Interview?

What Should You Wear for Your College Interview?

Among several aspects involved in a college admission process, interviews are perhaps one of the most common stress-causing factors for a student. Everyone wants their first impression to be a positive and memorable one during the interview. Your dress, body language, and how you are carrying yourself, are the things that get noticed at first glance. So, it is essential to take good care of how you look and what you wear during an interview.

Most interviewers pay very little attention to what the applicant is wearing. They are keener on evaluating the transcripts, aspirations, and interests of the candidates. Wearing smart attire with the right accessories, however, can help to boost your confidence.

Your focus should be on wearing something comfortable that falls under general guidelines set by colleges. Dressing well does not necessarily mean wearing fancy clothes. You should aim at presenting yourself as a tidy, smart, and confident individual. Business casuals are the best option to achieve your desired look.

Keeping certain factors in mind while dressing up will help you to attain an interview ready look. Few dressing tips for both girls and boys are listed below.

What Should Men Wear?

When it comes to men, sticking to basic formals is best since there are limited options.

Weather Condition is A Vital Factor

Weather is a factor many people tend to ignore when dressing up for a formal occasion. This may lead to results that you were probably not anticipating. For instance, if you are in a warm and humid region and you choose to wear a thick suit, you are likely to sweat. On top of that, sweating may cause bad smell leading to an unpleasant situation. Therefore, wearing clothes according to the weather condition is the best way to go.

Dress Up According to Types of Campus and Interviewers

Business casuals for men include dress pants with a belt, paired with a long-sleeved, collared shirt, and a pair of dress shoes. Additionally, you can put on a sports jacket to enhance your appearance. If you own a suit and a tie, you can wear them to give a more professional vibe. But they are not a mandatory requirement.

If you are visiting a very casual campus, you will probably get away with wearing rolled-up sleeves and very dark jeans without any rips or tears. However, even if the campus seems informal, you must maintain a neat and clean look. Your clothes should not be dirty or creased. Avoid wearing sneakers.

Choice of Colour is Important

Colour plays an important role in human psychology. Your choice of colours for clothes creates an impression of you in the mind of the interviewer. If you wear excessively bright colours, you may come across as a loud individual, while wearing too dull colours can make you look shabby. The safest choice of colour for your shirt is the conventional shades of blue. Pair it up with black or grey trousers to complete the look.

Shoes Tell A Lot About You

One of the first things someone notices about you are your shoes. Hence, selecting the right pair of shoes becomes important. You can choose from black, dark brown, and other similar shades. But it is always better to go with black leather shoes with dark socks that add a nice touch to your business casual attire.

Beard and Hair

Your appearance should be clean. It is strongly recommended for you to be clean-shaven. Stubbles create an untidy and negative impression in the interview. If you carry a beard as your everyday look, make sure to trim it neatly. Your hair should be brushed properly.

What are the Options for Women?

Women have a wide range of options in terms of outfits. While this enables you to be creative, too many options can confuse you resulting in a failed attempt to make a good impression. So what can you wear? Find out below the points to remember while picking your dress.

Type of Dress and Colour

Women have the option to wear dresses and suits or any formal dress according to your country.

If you plan to wear a dress, it should fit properly. Wear a blazer to cover your shoulders if the dress does not have sleeves.

You can also wear a pantsuit or a skirt suit if you wish. This includes wearing an A-line skirt or dress pants paired with a blouse or collared shirt. You can choose to wear a nice cardigan or a jacket along with it.

If it’s a casual interview, you can wear dark jeans along with an elegant jacket and a scarf.

Colour of clothes for women are similar to the recommended colours for menswear. Light shades of blue, peach, mild pink or white are the best options for you. The skirt or trousers should be black, grey or other dark colours.

What Shoes to Choose

When it comes to shoes, there are plenty of options for women. Both open-toe shoes and closed-toe shoes are appropriate. However, trim and keep your nails clean if you want to wear open-toe shoes. Wearing bright shades of nail polish can be inappropriate.

Polished or clean black shoes are the best option if you want to carry a professional look. Flip-flops and very high heels are a complete no.

General Appearance

Your overall presentation must be tidy and clean. Hair should be neatly brushed. If you have long hair, pull it back into a bun or o ponytail. Wearing shiny hair accessories can seem unprofessional.

Clean and trimmed nails show your hygiene sense. If you want to wear nail polish, choose a neutral colour.

Whether you want to wear lipstick is up to you. According to some guidelines, glossy lip colours are discouraged from wearing. Neutral colour is always the best and safest choice.

What Should You Wear for Your College Interview?

It is important to maintain a professional appearance while attending an interview. Wear comfortable and clean outfits. Avoid anything that may distract you or your interviewers, such as shiny accessories and loud colours.

You should aim at creating a good impression while being comfortable in your clothes. That way both the interviewer and you can focus on the conversation without the occurrence of any unpleasant situation.

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