While it is important to create a great resume, the most important part of the hiring process is the interview process.  No matter what the employment cover letter states and how many resume tips and resume services have been used to create an awesome job resume, a poor structured interview will certainly diminish any chances of getting hired.  One important aspect of interviews is first impressions.

Let me start off with a qualifier here. The information in this section should be applied to traditional business environments. The vast majority of employers want people who can stand out in performance, not personal appearance.

Clothing – You need to dress for the position and be careful not to over-dress or under-dress. As an example, the levels of dress for a man might include:

- Suit & tie

- Sport coat & tie

- Sport coat without a tie

- Shirt & Tie

- Casual

- Work Clothes

A degree of commonsense needs to apply here. Obviously, if I were a Truck Mechanic, I would not go to an interview wearing a suit and tie; most likely, I would wear a shirt and tie at best. Similarly, I would not attend an interview in a Board Room with Board Members for a Chief Operating Officer position wearing casual clothes, unless I was specifically requested to do so.

Women also need to be sensitive to clothing as well as the issues of cleavage and skirt length. Again, depending on the position, you need to make a judgment call.

I’ve known women who have claimed that a low cut blouse and jacked-up hemline got them their jobs. I don’t doubt that there are some interviewers, specifically men, who are swayed by such tactics. And in today’s world, the saying, “Sex sells” is an accurate reflection of how to attract attention and get what you want. However, I know of many employers who assume that revealing clothing is nothing more than a ploy to move the interview away from the candidate’s lack of skills.

Making a first impression in the interview is just as important as positively reflecting your abilities on a resume cover letter or any of your resumes.  Stay conservative and dress for the job you are striving for in the interview.