Let’s face it – interviews are a nerve-wracking experience at any time, with candidates being judged not just by what they say but also based on their
appearance.
The general rule of thumb is
to dress in a manner that is professional, conservative, and appropriate to
your prospective work environment then no one can make ‘gut judgements’ on you
based simply upon appearance.
● Corporate Sales:
Working in corporate sales requires a
somewhat more formal version of business attire than a retail or call centre
sales job would require. Employees who work in such settings often come into
contact with clients and suppliers and will sometimes work in an office setting
alongside senior management staff. Therefore,
the most appropriate attire for a job interview for this type of sales position
includes dark suits with light shirts, dark ties, and formal shoes for men.
Women should also dress conservatively, in dark two-piece business suits with a
colour coordinated or neutral blouse and wear minimal jewellery. Any body art
should be covered up and both men and women should present an overall
well-groomed appearance.
● Telesales and Call Centre Sales:
Many applicants for sales positions
at call centres or telesales jobs make the mistake of dressing too casually for
their interview. However, despite the somewhat more informal work setting of
most call centres, candidates for such sales positions still need to make a
good impression on prospective employers. While applicants need not wear
business suits to their interviews, they must still present a neat,
professional experience. Personally, I
would recommend still wearing a suit if you own one; if not trousers/skirt and
a smart shirt/blouse. Then none can make
judgements based upon the logo of your top or the brand of your chosen
trainers. Jewellery and make-up should
still be kept to a minimum, and all facial piercings and tattoos should be
concealed.
● Retail Sales:
Working on the sales floor of a
retail outlet is a far different cry from working in corporate or telephone
sales. Sales people are always in direct contact with the customers and have to
maintain a professional appearance at all times that is in keeping with the
tone and ambiance of the store. For instance, a sales assistant at Harvey
Nichols will typically be required to dress on trend with the department
they are looking to represent. In contrast
if the interview is with a more traditional department store, you should dress more formally. What you should wear to a
retail sales job therefore depends almost entirely on what type of company you
are applying to work at. For instance, a
woman who wears no make-up for a sales job at a cosmetics store has little
chance of being hired. Conversely, dressing in a manner that is overly fashion
forward might not be the best move if you are interviewing for a job at a
traditional department store.
If you are completely dumbfounded as to what
to wear to your interview, take some time to research how employees at the
company usually dress, either in person or by contacting someone in the HR
department and simply ask what is acceptable/preferred.
Some stores, such as John Lewis, also have a
formal dress code which can help applicants narrow down their choices. Whatever
outfit you choose to wear, it is important to make sure that your clothes are
clean, pressed, and in good repair, and that you wear your clothes with
confidence – after all, it is one trait that all good hiring managers are
looking for.
