When we are unemployed, we often forget the importance of looking professional when job hunting. It’s easily overlooked as being unimportant because we imagine that our experience and education are all that matters and of course, it can be argued that appearance shouldn’t mean anything and these are the only things that should matter. However it is indisputable that looking professional helps create a good first impression on a potential employer. Looking professional can be easily achieved by buying a nice suit for men or shirt/ladies trousers combination and will not only make you more employable, it will make you feel better about your chances for getting a job. Whether it’s handing in your C.V to a local supermarket or attending a job interview, here are our reasons why looking sharp and well-dressed can help you get a job;
Looking professional makes a lasting first impression.
As mentioned, the first thing that an employer wants to know when they meet you is if you are professional. Dressing professionally will instantly give that impression before you even say a word to your potential employer. This could be for an interview, which is conventionally what people think of when they imagine dressing professionally for a potential employer. However, it could also be when you drop your C.V off, even though you are not ‘officially’ in an interview scenario yet. This is because the employer wants to know that you are professional at all times, including your day-to-day life, so if you don’t come across that way in your first impression that could even hamper your possibility of getting an interview.
You’ll feel (and therefore look) more confident.
Dressing professionally can give even the least confident person a boost. Smart clothing makes you feel more attractive and makes you feel like you look more intelligent and professional. Subconsciously, you will feel more professional and therefore carry yourself with more confidence. This will impress your potential employer, as having an air of confidence (not arrogance) always gives a better first impression. Along with your boost in confidence, you may also find you have the bravery to apply to more places, drop your C.V into more shops and therefore improve your chances at getting a job.
You won’t find yourself questioning your clothing choices.
There is nothing worse than coming out of an interview and questioning yourself. This will happen regardless of how well you do but at least if you are dressed professionally it is one less thing to worry about. You don’t want to come out of your interview asking yourself if your shirt was a little too casual, so why risk it? Giving yourself one less thing to worry about pre and post interview can save you a lot of heartache and give you the confidence to know you did as much as you could to be successful.
You can wear your professional clothes in several different situations.
You don’t have to wear the professional interview outfit you bought just once. You can wear it for several different interviews, you can wear it at work and if it’s suitable you can wear it for formal social occasions too. You don’t have to feel like you’re spending money on an outfit for just one interview; think of it as your ‘interview clothes’ – the clothes you wear in any formal situation and you’ll feel like you’re getting more value for your money.
Overall, dressing professionally day-to-day is likely to make you feel more confident, professional and will give you more optimism in your abilities to get a job. Remember that it is important to buy quality over quantity; a nice shirt from a store that sells professional work clothing is likely to look a lot smarter than one from a cheaper store, for example. You are always better off having a few nice shirts than many poor quality ones; so ensure you buy carefully and responsibly. If you are unsure of what to wear for your interview, try having a look at the latest professional fashions and styles to get a sense of what people are wearing in today’s working world – but you really can’t ever go wrong with a nice shirt, suit trousers and a nice pair of shoes.
Image source
