TEMPE, AZ - We want to help those of you on the job hunt.
The Arizona economy may be on its way to a slow recovery, but the unemployment rate in our state remains sky high.
Each week, we highlight real mistakes made during real job interviews, plus other job hunt dilemmas, and offer real tips to help turn those situations around.
Have you had your own bad experiences? Do you know someone else who has shared a bad experience with you? E-mail us a summary at rebecca.thomas@abc15.com , and we'll track down some advice from our expert for one of our future posts.
This week's job hunt scenario:
Summer is coming up -- how do I dress for interviews? What's the standard for men and women, and does it change with the season?
This week's advice: By: Karen E. Lamb Assistant Director, Career Advising and Curriculum Arizona State University
When you are interviewing for a job, many things are out of your control. However, you can control your appearance! Dressing appropriately for this important meeting with a prospective employer will create a positive impression the very first moment you walk in the door.
When determining what to wear for an interview, take into consideration the type of job you are seeking. For example, if you are interviewing for an administrative or clerical position for an organization, or a job in a warehouse or manufacturing environment, business casual dress is acceptable. Men should wear a shirt and tie or collared polo shirt with dress pants. Women should choose dress slacks or a skirt with a tailored blouse or perhaps a dress with sleeves. In both instances, the defining factor for the business casual style is that a jacket is typically not necessary.
You may also wear business casual dress for jobs that require a uniform, such as residential and commercial services and home maintenance technicians. Your appearance should be neat and clean, yet at the same time, give the distinct impression that you are not afraid to get dirty once you are wearing the uniform.
For professional positions, even if the organization follows a business casual dress code, both men and women should wear a business suit for the interview. Until you have the job, wearing a business suit distinguishes you from other individuals. Once you are an employee, you are free to adopt a more relaxed look for the office. The rest of your interview outfit, including accessories, should also be traditional business attire. For instance, men should wear a tie in a solid color or simple pattern. Ladies should be conservative in all aspects of their appearance; low cut blouses and short skirts are for the clubs and have no place in the boardroom. Likewise, skip the stiletto heels; pumps with a two to three inch heel and hosiery in a neutral color are appropriate for this business meeting.
Finally, both men and women should carry a briefcase or slip a padfolio under their left arm. It is best to leave your right hand free for the handshake with the recruiter.
The guidelines for interview dress are standard throughout all seasons of the year. Even in the hot Arizona summer, it is recommended that professional men and women wear a dress suit including jacket and that women wear hosiery with their shoes. Common sense dictates that in summer more lightweight materials are worn, but otherwise the rules for interview dress remain the same. After all, most candidates are going from an air conditioned car to an air conditioned office; the heat is no excuse for dressing down, when dressing up is key to the successful start of the interview.
For additional guidance on business casual and professional dress, http://www.symsdress.com provides helpful tips and illustrations.