Dressing for Success

Do: dress appropriately
· Check the “Career” section of the company’s website to see if they show pictures of staff and
take note of how they are dressed; this section may even suggest a guideline for dressing
· Try using your network to locate an insider and ask their advice
· When all else fails, you can call and ask HR directly
· It’s always easier for someone to picture you dressed down then dressed up, so always dress
as professionally as possible

Do: wear appropriate business attire

· For males:
o Blue and gray suits are fine and should be a complete suit (i.e., pants match the
jacket); black is too formal
o Solid colours are preferred, but thin pinstripe is fine
o Shirts should be pressed and be of a light colour, preferable blue; never have floral,
strongly striped or dark shirts
o Your tie should compliment your suit and not draw attention
o Stick with black, well polished shoes
o Your belt should match the colour of your shoes
o Socks should match the colour of your suit or can be slightly darker; never wear
white socks
o Check, and recheck your interview “outfit” (i.e., clothing and briefcase items) the
night before; make sure its still fits appropriately and is clean
o Be well groomed (clean hair, well shaved, clean finger nails, etc) and limit the
cologne

· For females:
o Blue, black, gray or beige suits are fine and should be a complete suit (i.e., skirt/pants
match the jacket)
o Blouses should be pressed and be of a light colour, preferable white, off-white or
blue; subtle patterns are fine
o Shoes should be a basic pump with a low heel; can be black, dark blue, or brown
o Shoes can be brought in a separate shoe-bag (i.e., not in a plastic grocery bag) when
weather is either rainy or snowy
o Hair should be clean, well groomed, and styled in a classic manner
o Conservatively applied makeup and little or no perfume should be worn