A Job Fair Story

Dressing for the interview

I recently went to a job fair. I really didn’t expect much but there was a good keynote speaker so I was excited to hear him speak even if the rest of the fair was bad.

The job fair wasn’t awful but it was filled with mostly insurance companies, Multi-Level-Marketing (MLM) companies and a couple of collection companies. I think I gave out about 3 résumés in total.

The highlight of the day was pure entertainment – the people that came through the door for the job fair. These were people supposedly here to interview for a job or at least make a good enough impression that a potential employer might want to call them back for an interview.

About 80% of the people there were dressed fairly appropriately. The other 20% were at times almost laughable. In the auditorium, while we were waiting for the speaker, I noticed that the woman in front of me had on these high high shoes with laces (the kind you see every starlet wearing these days), a tiny tiny dress (way too tiny for her body) and my favorite – neon yellow nails. Every time she stood up she had to readjust that dress – most of the time, it was too late.

Another woman wore bright red high top tennis shoes, a jean skirt that is most assuredly from the 1970’s and a HUGE t-shirt that was at least 3 sizes larger than her body.

Several people wore jeans…am I missing something here – why oh why would you wear jeans?

One guy had the 1980’s pimp thing going on – sorry there was no other way to describe him. Another guy had a chain hanging down his long pants that were just barely covering his butt – his underwear was cute, little hearts. I saw at least 20 baseball hats. Way too many hooker/pole dancer shoes and enough tiny little dresses to make my head spin like in the original exocist movie!

So what is proper for a job fair or job interview?

First always remember, KISS – keep it simple stupid

Dark plain suits – yes you need to wear a suit! If the weather is hot – don’t put on your jacket until you are at the venue.
Simple shirt underneath – guys just a nice tie to go with the suit
Simple jewelry – this does not include shoulder duster earrings, chains hanging on your pants or anything they might wear on any of the reality shows.
Simple shoes (examples at end of post) – Ladies heels no higher than 3″, nothing with ties or straps or faux diamonds or faux fur – just simple heels, polished and clean – if it looks like something you will see on people in one of the Hollywood magazines – go back to your closet you picked incorrectly – simple heels or flats.
Hair – should be neat, clean and polished looking
Nails – should be clean, filed and if polished – light colors or clear
NO PERFUME OR AFTERSHAVE!
Ladies if you wear a skirt – no higher than 2″ above the knee.

Remember this is not a fashion contest it is a job interview!

Now if you are interviewing for a job with Vogue or GQ than you might want to skip pretty much everything I said above. But those are huge exceptions to the rule. See if you can connect with someone that works there to find out what would be proper for the interview.

You want “YOU” to be the star of the show not your outfit. Sell them on you and you will likely get the job.

Some shoe examples: