Interview: A Success Journey to a Successful Professional Career ( Series-4) Training & Development

Interview - Grooming & Appropriate Dressing

"You are your greatest asset. Put your time, effort and money into training, grooming and encouraging your greatest asset."

“The suit is the anchor of a professional man’s & women's wardrobe”

Dressing plays a vital role in the interview success. Clothes reveal half of the story about the success chance of the candidate. It is well said, “Dress Before You Address”. Today most of the youngsters are running far away from the true discipline of formal dressing and hence when they try these outfits at the time of interaction they are totally uncomfortable. Sometimes it is noticed that during campus interviews student borrow the formals from their peer group and thus are confused not only at the part of dressing but also at the conceptual delivery. This is the main reason to give uniformity at all working levels not only schools but corporate and business schools are also tying up with the concept of formal dressing, that sense to bring more corporate looks at both personal and professional sense. As such there is no hard and fast rule for interview dressing but yes one should always dress formal with smart appearance and the most crucial point is we need to dress according to our professional demand. Interview dressing should match as per job profile of the company and suiting country norms.

Why Grooming & Dressing?

Grooming is the processes of making yourself look neat and attractive. The things which you do to make yourself and your appearance tidy and pleasant.

Need for Professional Grooming

• To improve Communication Skills

• Good Articulation

• Improving Conceptual & Presentation Skills

• To Improve Industrial Knowledge

• Problem Solving Skills

• Team Work

• Confidence Building & Developing Overall Personality. 

Positive Traits in a Vibrant Groomed Professional:

If you look and behave like a highly trained and well-groomed professional, you will win the respect and honor of most valued clients.

• A groomed professional radiates competence and confidence.

• A professional is always positive, focused, and energetic.

• A professional avoids engaging in or repeating gossip.

• A professional always maintains the highest levels of honesty and integrity.

• A groomed professional is a role-model.

Grooming is an overall development of personality. It is the journey that covers all three major aspects of life.

Three basic things you need to consider when figuring out what’s appropriate for your working wardrobe:

1. Your Line of Work
2. Your Corporate Culture
3. Your Audience

Grooming is the persona of one’s mature life, that leads a man to be human, who understands values, respect, responsibilities and motivates him enough to perform better even at the time of adversity.

Men and Women common Dressing:

• Conservative two-piece business suit (solid dark blue or grey is best)
• Conservative long-sleeved shirt/blouse (white is best, pastel is next best)
• Clean, trimmed fingernails
• Minimal cologne or perfume/deodorant
• Empty pockets—only mobile (silent mode) and handkerchief
• Dark shoes (black lace-ups are best)
• Dark socks (black is best)
• Clean shaven face
• No gum, candy, or cigarettes
• Light briefcase or portfolio case
• No visible body piercing (nose rings, chains, bracelets &  eyebrow rings, etc.) or tattoos/ mehandies
• Wear a suit with a jacket and skirt or slacks.
• Shoes with conservative heels
• Clean, polished conservative shoes
• Minimum use of ornaments
• Avoid large purses but can carry laptop briefcase.
• Enamels need to be conservative in color
• Well-groomed hairstyle -Keep your hair shot and if long avoid open.
• Keep your makeup simple and natural

Conclusion

“Dress badly and they remember the clothes; dress well and they remember the person”

We can win the interview with our selling skills that we can master from our academic and professional career as well as with our maturity to understand current affairs like economic, social behavioral, science and political issues. We need to be confident but overconfidence can ruin our possibilities for interview success. The most important aspect to remember is that we should start preparing for our interview since the moment we choose our career. Never enter an interview hall without prior homework as it also increases the failure and disappointment chances of a candidate. Study the company profile and the vision as well as the mission of the responding company because most of the interview questions revolve around the above concepts. Speak clearly and enthusiastically about your experiences and skills. Try to be honest but optimistic and speak as you are sharing your ideas and thoughts. Don't forget that greeting is the magical mantra and smile is the tantra for your success chance during interview. Prepare a solid self introduction as it is the most demanded question to enter the chakraview of interview. My purpose of sharing this article with you is to make you that Abhimanyu which not only knows how to enter the Chakraview but after negotiating all rounds successfully knows how to smoothly sail out victoriously with flying colors.

Kavita Thapliyal

Business Communication and Soft Skills Trainer & Consultant

Web:  www.visionsahead.com

These Series of Articles can also be viewed at http://www.articlesbase.com/interviews-articles/interviewa-success-journey-to-a-successful-professional-career-706363.html