WHAT COLOUR TO WEAR AND WHAT TO WEAR FOR YOUR NEXT INTERVIEW??

WHAT COLOUR TO WEAR AND WHAT TO WEAR FOR YOUR NEXT INTERVIEW??

by Zoe Merson-Davies #Tips #Interview

What colour to wear for your upcoming job interview?? How do I choose the right colours and what do those colour choices mean?

For first job interviews, as a general rule, it is recommended that you wear conservative colours such as navy blue, mid to dark gray, black or brown, in a suit (for both men and women) or a classic dress for women. Choose any of these conservative colours with a white, off-white or pastel blouse or shirt to soften the look, and add an accent of colour to add energy and personality – for men this accent colour will be in their tie, while for women it will be in their jewellery or a scarf.

Medium to dark colours are most business-like, authoritative and conservative and usually the best option for job interviews.

Lighter colours are friendlier and less threatening, but they lack power.

The more serious and high-powered the position you are applying for, the darker and more conservative the choice of colour should be.

The following is a list of colours and their meanings – read this list to find which colour or colours communicate the messages you wish to send out to your interviewer. Choose a base colour such as dark blue, gray or black, for example, and add accents of colour to show some of your personality.

NAVY BLUE is probably the best option for first job interviews as it elicits a positive response from most interviewers. It is a professional colour which adds an impression of authority, confidence, trust, honesty, loyalty, stability, reliability and credibility. Many bosses see it as the colour of the team player.

GREY gives an impression of sophistication and professionalism. While it is a strong and powerful colour, it is non-confrontational and does not distract – and it is less intimidating than black. Always add another colour accent (not gray), in your tie, scarf or jewellery if you choose grey for a suit or dress.

BLACK is a powerful and authoritarian colour that can be seen as sophisticated or intimidating. It is associated with strength and leadership and is a good choice for an interview in the legal sector – otherwise, use it as an accent colour in a tie or scarf or jewellery. Although many young people love wearing black, they need to realize that wearing black is intimidating and aggressive and may cause the interviewer to become defensive. It can also put a barrier between them and the interviewer. At the same time, wearing some black can add confidence to an applicant who is a little unsure of them self.

BROWN gives the impression that you are confident, dependable, reliable and flexible, but it can also be seen as dated and old-fashioned. It is a friendly and approachable colour that works well for many industrial job interviews.

WHITE suggests simplicity, organization and cleanliness. It is a great choice for a shirt or blouse to go with a navy, grey, black or brown suit.

RED is over-powering and attention-seeking and not suitable to wear to an interview except as an accent colour. It exudes energy, passion and confidence as well as aggression, arrogance and anger. Use sparingly, especially for a first interview!

MAROON or BURGUNDY or WINE-COLOUR is an acceptable form of red for a woman’s suit but not as good as navy, gray or black.

GREEN, YELLOW, PURPLE and ORANGE are distracting and memorable colours that are more suitable to creative or media jobs. Use these colours carefully as they don’t always elicit a positive response in job interviews. Green is sometimes viewed negatively as an untrustworthy colour, while orange can look unprofessional and cheap. Yellow and purple are associated with unusual creative types and often not liked by older males. Use these colours very sparingly for job interviews, if at all.

Women tend to react more positively to blue based colours, such as deep blue-reds, most blues, blue-greys, most pinks, and blue-greens. Use these colours when being interviewed by a female.

To men, the yellow based colours are more attractive. True reds and orange reds, peachy-apricot along with most blues are best. Use these colours if being interviewed by a male, but only in small quantities and as an accent colour.

BLUE is the most universally liked colour, and it creates a positive response from both men and women. It is the safest colour to use for job interviews as it is conservative and non-confrontational and loved universally by men and women in most cultures.