Saturday, September 15, 2012

Stop Hunting for a Husband & Hunt for a Job

I have my BA in Business Management and I am currently going through the job hunting/interviewing process with several companies. I am currently the kitchen manager-in-training at a local cafe but the hours are awful and the money just won't cut it. I have been thinking a lot about the proper interview attire as well as how to ace interviews and get that career you really want. One thing I have noticed in young women right out of school is that there is an ideal interviewing image. The sexy, strong and independent women who is a force to be dealt with. You can accomplish this look without it backfiring on you, but you need to consider what kind of job you are interviewing for. Some jobs are okay with you dressing nice but somewhat casual, while others are looking for a very professional look. Here are some examples I found to give you an idea of what I am talking about.

 
This is my favorite outfit! It is not too revealing, the shoulders are covered and she is wearing a skirt (No shorter than knee length!!) You could put a nice blazer with it if you want a more "powerful" and professional look as well. It is not a bold color and it looks really clean and well put together. You don't have to feel that you have abandoned all of your style to look professional. She has a very cute and sleek clutch as well as limited, yet very pretty accessories. Sometimes ladies, less is just so much more! In the renowned company of Mary Kay, Mary Kay Ash taught all of her reps that wearing skirts bring women more respect than wearing pants. Women who wear skirts are thought to be more trust worthy, to have more integrity in their business and are more approachable. Just think about it. What is the psychology of dressing? Let's look at some more examples.
 
 
Wow! This woman is inarguable beautiful! She looks confident and secure in herself. She is also a model. If you are applying for a job as a Victoria's Secret model or an exotic dancer (as my fiance put it) then by all means, wear this to your interview. However if you are applying for one of the thousands of other jobs in the world, you need to make sure you are representing yourself modestly. Wear a cami under your jacket that goes up to your collar bone (covering the cleavage) and definitely no showing your tummy! You might have the best body in the world, but your flat stomach is not going to be a job requirement in landing a high paying career in a general business environment. Now, look at the first picture and look at the woman above. Thinking back to the skirt vs pants, if you saw these women side by side and YOU were the hiring manager, both of their qualifications are equal and all you have is your first impression. Who do you think would be a better fit? The sweet and confident woman in the skirt or the strong minded woman in the pants who you might feel a little intimidated by? Would you hire someone you feel intimidated by? Most likely not. You have to spend time around them everyday and that could be a recipe for disaster.
 
 
Aww she is so cute! She looks very clean and well kept, but this look is just a little too relaxed for a really good job. She looks very sweet and she has very good style, but I doubt that she would wear this to an interview for her dream career right out of college (at least I hope she wouldn't). Unless you are interviewing for a position as a receptionist in a small rural town church, you probably want to step it up and wear something less casual.
 
So there you have it. I didn't want to stand on my soap box for a very long time so I didn't go into the psychology of colors or the psychology of hair styles; that may be a post for another time. I hope this helps you when you are looking through your closet preparing for your next interview. Good luck and land that career!
 
Images retrieved from:
 
 
 
 
 


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