First Impressions are Very Important at That Job Interview You've Had Your Eyes On for a Long Time! Your Complete Guide to the Interview Dress Code for Indian Women and How to Crack That Interview (2020)

First Impressions are Very Important at That Job Interview You've Had Your Eyes On for a Long Time! Your Complete Guide to the Interview Dress Code for Indian Women and How to Crack That Interview (2020)

No one wants to take a chance with a job that means a lot to our career and ambitions. It might be easy for men, as they can just dress up in dress shirt and khakis and they are set for almost any type of interview. It is not that same for a woman! There are so many factors that we need to consider; from dress type to make-up to accessories, all must be perfect, according to the type of job we are aiming for! With India being a multi-cultural country, it is even more difficult with the task of choosing between western and eastern wear. Here are some of the tips you might want to go through before your next interview, to learn the do's and don'ts of dressing up for an interview!

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Interview Dress Code That Works For Females

A job interview calls for a professional attire as it is a formal situation, but often many of us get confused when it comes to the outfit they must wear. An attire that gives an edge over other candidates is what you must choose for an interview. Here is a complete guide on the Interview Dress Code that Works well for Women.

Why is it important to be appropriately dressed for an Interview? Follow these tips to boost your confidence that will in turn help you perform well in the interview.

  • Your appearance is the first thing the interviewer notices as soon as you enter the cabin and it is vital to make sure that it is pleasant.
  • When you are dressed appropriately for the interview, the stress about the appearance is gone and it boosts your confidence. This will help you perform well in the interview.
  • Interview is where you meet the company personnel for the first time and being appropriately dressed makes a lasting impression.
  • When you follow the interview dress code, you emanate that executive impression around you, which is a true game changer.

Grooming Tips For Interview

Make-Up

The makeup you wear to an interview says a lot about your personality at the workplace, so it is important to keep it natural and mild. The makeup shouldn’t give an over-the-top look as you’re not heading to a party! It’s just an interview and you need to dress your part well!

Let’s look at some of tips to follow while doing makeup for an interview:



 Your makeup should be close to your skin tone
The very first thing to remember is to ensure that your makeup matches your skin tone. Do not use any bright blushes and say no to bright coloured lipsticks. You could use light bronzer with some dusk rose eye-shadow and preferably a nude lip shade with some gloss.

 Say No to False Eyelashes
False eyelashes will definitely make your eyes look wider, but it’s for parties not for interviews. Your goal is to keep the makeup look minimal and stand out. You can use a waterproof mascara, which is sweat proof and tear proof. Also, ensure that your mascara is light and well applied. It shouldn’t be clumpy, it’s important to look professional and flawless.

 Choose your blush wisely
If you are someone who gets flushed when nervous, it is best to go easy on the blush. A smart choice would be to use some highlighter instead. You can also apply a green-tinted primer, which help counteract the redness caused on the skin.

 Natural Lip Gloss
Choose between a lipstick or gloss, but it is important to use a natural tone that is close to your skin tone. Also be mindful of the gloss. Use a soothing gloss that is mild on your lips. The best thing would be to use a moisturizing lip care only.

 Eyes
Keep your eye makeup minimal. If you are used to a cat-eyed look then do not take your eyeliner past the outer edge of your eye to keep it more professional. Eye pencil could be the best option for you! Eye-shadow you wear should be soothing and close to your skin tone. The attention should be on your confidence not on your eye-shadow.

Hairstyle

Hairstyle for an interview is very important, as it plays a major role in creating a lasting impression on the interviewer. Your hair should be well styled and neat as this helps boost your confidence and to appear professional. Your hairstyle should be styled in a way that it doesn’t require to be set every now and then and that you can avoid running your hand through your hair during interview. Use hair spray or any styling product to keep your hair set for long.

Let’s see some of the hairstyles that you can do for an interview!

  • Straight and sleek hair
  • Side buns
  • Ponytails
  • Wear a loose wave
  • Straight bob
  • Curly bob
  • Pixie cut
  • For short hair, choose any asymmetrical style
  • Try some trendy braids

Jewellery

When it comes to jewellery, less is more! Mainly during an interview, you wouldn’t want to wear dangly funky jewellery or anything too sparkly. Keep it professional and clean. It shouldn’t draw too much attention. The jewellery should complement your attire and present you in the best way possible.

Here are some of the things that you can wear at an interview:

  • Earrings – Hoops or studs that aren’t too sparkly.
  • Your wedding ring if you are married.
  • A thin necklace.
  • A formal watch OR a bracelet (Not both!)

Shoes

Shoes might not seem to such an important part of your dress code, but it is actually the first thing a person notices about you according to a study. If you are wearing a business formal, then wear a dark brown or black shoe with socks. Always wear same colour belt and shoes, so that it complements your attire well. If you’re wearing a skirt then the best thing to wear is a high heel with front cover.

Interview Dress Code for Females In India (2020)

Interview dress code in India slightly varies from the universal dress code, considering our cultural inclinations. Let’s see how we Indian women can ace it!

Internship Interview Dress Code

Internship is a great opportunity for a candidate to work for a company while still being in college. This helps them get a hands-on experience in their field and understand the way the industry works. They can then accordingly develop the skills that are required. In many cases, internship can also turn into a full-time job offer! Though there are not much strict expectations during internship phase, it is still important to look professional and create a good impression in the company that you are hired at.

The key is to wear professional clothing. Avoid casuals and gym wear, though you aren’t expected to wear a business suit, as well. You can always do some research about the company environment and wear formal clothing with minimal makeup with complementary shoes and accessories. Be well groomed and presentable at all times. If necessary, carry a few things in your purse to help you fix your hair and makeup.

Informal Or Casual Interview Dress Code

Informal interview dress code is what many people prefer over formals, but it is a bit tricky to wear it like a pro. Informal dress code gives a sense of relief and comfort in an interview. However, you still cannot wear printed t-shirts, mini-skirts or shorts. Informal dress code in company terms means business casuals. You could say this is a relaxed form of formal dress code. It includes collared t-shirts, etc.

You can wear slacks, knee length skirt with a cotton blouse, sleeveless should only be worn with jackets, cardigans, or sweaters. Jewellery and makeup should still be minimal, complementary and elegant. For footwear, you can wear flats, heels with covered toes or boots.

Business Interview Dress Code

Business formal interview dress code:
When you are informed to follow business formal dress code to an interview, it means a strict formal dress code is to be followed. Wear a pantsuit, or skirt with formal shirt. Style them with an appropriate footwear, which is either black or dark brown. Your belt and shoes should be of the same colour. Wear minimal make up and little to no jewellery. If you choose to wear jewellery, ensure it is not flashy at all.

Business casual interview dress code:
Here, you are more at ease as it is casuals, but be careful not to overdo it. Wear cropped black trousers, a simple dress or jeans with a cotton blouse. Do not wear sleeveless blouse unless you are wearing a jacket or a cardigan. Here too avoid over-the-top makeup and flashy jewellery. Accessorize well, with a watch or a bracelet, thin neck piece and earrings (stud or hoops).

Formal Interview Dress Code

Source www.clbxg.com

Formal Interview dress code for Indian women could pose an opportunity to impress the interviewer and the company. You can wear a pantsuit or skirt with cotton shirt, if you are wearing a western formal dress. However, if you choose to go ethnic then do some research on the company’s work culture and what dresses are allowed. This can be done by checking their social media site.

If you are wearing an Indian formal, then you can wear cotton kurta with leggings, cotton saree with simple blouse or cotton kurta with palazzo pants.Here too the hairstyle and makeup should complement the attire and ensure you look polished and professional. Footwear can be flats or toe covered heels. Accessorise minimally.

Video Skype Interview Dress Code

Video interviews through Skype are becoming a popular trend in the business world today. It can be attended from the comfort of your home, which helps get rid of a lot of stress related to reaching the destination. You might feel nervous, as it is new and unfamiliar, but it is not that difficult to ace it.

Always choose an outfit that is formal and something that you are comfortable in. You can wear a cotton blouse with a skirt, or a formal shirt with a pant. You could also wear a blouse with a jacket on top. The colours of your dress, accessories, makeup should all be well coordinated and presentable. The makeup should be minimal, as the lighting of the camera can enhance your face. Check how you look on the web cam by calling any of your friend before the interview and make necessary corrections.

Colours To Wear For The Interview

Now that you know all about what clothes to wear, makeup, jewellery and shoes. Let’s look at what colours to wear for the interview and find out what works the best for you! The colour of your attire says a lot about you and your personality, so it is important that you put in some thought into it and present yourself in the best way possible. Always avoid bright colours and go for neutral ones.

The classic colours to wear to an interview are Black, Blue, White and Grey. Here is what they symbolise:


  • Black – Black is the best neutral colour out there! It represents power, leadership, timeliness and authoritative personality. This will help you establish yourself as a strong candidate for the post.
  • Blue – Blue is another neutral colour that is ideal for interviews. It includes navy, but you can wear any blue as long it’s not too bright. Blue represents calmness, trust and especially shows that you are confident and will prove to be a team player.
  • White – White is the best colour to coordinate and goes well with almost anything! White represents you as a are neat, detailed oriented and an organised person. It also conveys simplicity. This gives a very good first impression to the interviewer.
  • Grey – Grey is also a neutral colour that is easy to match with almost anything. However, if you have a tendency to sweat when you are nervous, you may want to think this through, as it shows patches of sweat clearly. Grey represents sophistication, neutrality, logical and analytical thinking pattern, which is all that an interviewer is looking for in his candidates!

Tips To Crack The Interview

Other than dressing, there are other tips you need to keep in mind in order to ace an interview. Here they are mentioned below:

  • Follow the dress code that has been informed to you sincerely. Do not deviate from it.
  • Arrive at least ten minutes early to the venue. This shows that you are serious about the job and it'll help you avoid the embarrassment of being breathless during the interview, due to arriving late.
  • Keep all the documents ready for the interview and place them in the order you will need to present them. This will help save crucial seconds of your time during the interview.
  • Be Confident. Sometimes, even if you don’t answer all the questions correctly, the confidence you have when you speak could get you the job! So be confident no matter what.
  • Do not be nervous. An interview is a nerve cracking thing, but it is important to conduct yourself professionally and with confidence. So, take a few deep breaths, relax and face that interview!
  • Don’t be afraid of losing the Job. When you are afraid of losing something, it causes a lot of stress, which makes it difficult to give your best in the interview.
  • Say ‘I don’t know’ if you don’t know something. It happens so many times when you are in interview that you feel the need to answer everything, but sometimes if you don’t have the answer, it is best that you say so to the interviewer. No human being is perfect and knows it all! Your honesty is more important.
  • Research about the company. Do some research on the company’s background before you attend the interview. This shows your interest in the company.
Writer
Malathi
Malathi is a freelance content writer offering blogging, ghost-writing, and copywriting services. In addition to developing digital marketing content, she maintains niche websites related to kids, parenting, and pregnancy. Malathi's works have been featured on several prominent blogs and websites. When she is not writing, you will find her exploring exotic locales on our beautiful planet.
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It Is Best To Do Some Research About The Company Before Heading For The Interview!

To decide the best dress for your best impression in your new company, the easiest way is to do some research about the environment of the company and the type of job you are looking for. You can do so by checking the social media sites of the company and by seeing the photos of the employees there. If the company's dress code is strictly professional, you don't want to be taken non-seriously by dressing too casually. Similarly, if the company has a more relaxed and casual environment, dressing up formerly will only make you look like a fool and the interviewer might feel that might not be able to adjust well with their environment!