Ask what to wear

It is perfectly acceptable to ask what to wear before an interview if you are unsure. Your PN Personnel Recruitment Specialist will always brief you if the client has any specific requirements in this area, as we want you to present yourself in the best light. Some jobs, particularly those with a front facing customer service element to them, will require a high level of presentation, and the employer will be expecting you to be well groomed. 

Be clean and comfortable

You and the clothes you are wearing need to be clean, before we even discuss what type of clothes you wear, wash yourself, ensure your clothes are clean and stain-free, brush your hair and your teeth. 

Overly tight, fitting clothes are not going to make you feel comfortable in an interview. If you are wearing a jacket have a suitable top or shirt underneath. Office environments can be warm, site offices on a hot day may not have air-conditioning, these elements combined with a few nerves could make you warmer than you would expect. This also applied to the online interview. It’s no fun sweating through an interview, so less is more.

White collar: If you are going for an interview for an office job, dress up over dressing down. 

Blue Collar: Your clothes should still be neat, clean pants or jeans with no rips or marks and a clean shirt/top. Smart casual is recommended, even if the role will have you working in overalls or a uniform.

Tattoos and piercings

Cover up or not cover up, take out or leave? This is an area in which your Recruitment Specialist can offer advice and it does depend on the nature of the job you are applying for. Many Kiwi businesses take a much more liberal approach to tattoos and piercings these days, but just as businesses differ, so do the style and size of tattoos and piercings so there is no one size fits all answer.

If your tattoo has cultural significance and is highly obvious let the interviewer know this. If you’re your tattoo is visually inappropriate, it is highly likely you could be asked to cover up. It is dependent on the job and the environment you are working within.

Footwear

This is deserving of its own section as casual footwear is commonplace in many workplaces. Of course, this doesn’t apply to an online interview but for the traditional face-to-face consider:

• If you are a tradesperson, you need suitable protection for your job, be it work boots or gumboots. Wear these if you have them; just remember if you are interviewing in an office to take them off – or ask before you walk in with them.
• Within the office environment, sneakers are sneaking in. PN Personnel recommends not wearing sneakers to the first interview, unless you are sure the company culture allows it.
• Neat, clean covered shoes are your best bet.
• Jandals are not acceptable! NEVER!

Online interviews

If your interview is virtual, the same rules apply to your top half! Your face is important when you are viewed from a screen:

• ensure your hair is neat and not falling in your face
• no hats or head coverings (unless you wear one for cultural reasons)
• comfortable, tidy top (similar to what you would wear to an in-person interview)

Last but definitely not least – WEAR A SMILE!

Your best asset in all interview situations! Never underestimate the power of a smile, it goes a long way and always makes a positive first impression.