Do you know how long it takes for someone to judge you on your appearance? Keep reading to find out…

According to research it takes only 100 milliseconds for someone to judge you on your appearance.

Your presentation is extremely important when making a first impression with a potential employer. Being clean, presentable and appropriately dressed when handing in your resume or attending an interview will ensure you give a positive first impression.

An untidy appearance or the wrong attire can make you seem as though you don’t care about the opportunity, or yourself. Even an applicant with amazing skills and experience will most likely not make it through the shortlisting process if they present poorly.

Whether you’re a labourer, or an office manager, it’s not appropriate to hand in a resume or rock up to an interview wearing board shorts and thongs. Clothing should be professional and tidy with closed in footwear.

Lets look at some examples of what to wear.

Ladies should be dressed conservatively without too much skin. A corporate knee length dress or suit is perfect for corporate style interviews. For positions that are a little more casual you can play it down with tidy jeans, a relaxed blazer and closed in shoes.

Men should go for a suit for corporate interviews and professional positions.  A dress shirt with pants may also be suitable. If the role is a manual one, it’s perfectly acceptable to wear a work shirt. Just make sure it’s a clean shirt that isn’t too old and you have neat pants or jeans. Shoes should always be closed in, which means no thongs. You can wear your work boots if you want, but again, make sure they’re clean and not too worn.

And one last thing, hygiene is non negotiable! Fresh breath, deodorant and brushed hair are absolutely essential.
Know someone who’s looking for work? Why not share this with them to make sure they look their best when attending their next interview.