Employment Solutions

You know what type of clothes to wear to an interview. But what about the colors? Surprisingly, the colors you wear (or not wear) can make a difference.

 

Research indicates that the majority of communication is nonverbal. True, if you tank an interview, there's not a blazer in the world sharp enough to save you. However, first impressions are incredibly important in an interview, so it's equally important to understand how the colors that you wear can unexpectedly say things about you before you even open your mouth.

 

First, the DON'TS:

 

DON'T wear orange to an interview. It may look great on you, but it doesn't matter that an orange tie looks amazing in the fall, or that everyone loves your tangerine blouse. The simple truth is that orange consistently scores dead last by hiring managers and is rated the least desirable color to wear to an interview. Save it until after you get the job. Orange rates as one of the least professional colors, and is also the color least associated with confidence. And to top it all off, it can also evoke negative emotions - orange is the color of criminals (think: prison outfits) and creating roadblocks (think: construction cones).
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DON'T wear brown. It seems like a safe choice...but it's too safe. Hiring managers really don't like it - they score it as boring, weak, bland...you get the picture. It also conjures up other undesirable associations. UPS is a fantastic company, but their brown color was chosen a hundred years ago to help hide the dirt on their vehicles. And if dirt isn't dirty enough for you, you can probably think of some other gross brown stuff. Enough said, there are better options.

 

DON'T wear red. Wait - isn't that a "power color"? Exactly. When it comes to interviews, it's passionate and polarizing, and hiring managers tend to either love it or hate it, so don't wear a lot of red unless you are ready to take that risk. But let's be reasonable - there's nothing wrong with a little bit of red on your tie or jewelry, or in some other way as an accent color. Just remember that a lot of red can come across as dominating, or even worse, rebellious...and that's not what you want to risk putting in an interviewer's head.

 

The MAYBE NOTS:

 

Purple or yellow (and to a lesser extent green) should only be worn if it is for a creative position. They are also considered some of the "fun" and "attention-getting" colors, so save them for regular meetings or happy hour - after you get through the interview process. If the color shines like a beacon from across the room, it's generally a bad choice for an interview.

 

The YES list:

 

Blue ranks as the best, and the darker blues are particularly powerful. Blue inspires confidence and trust. You're calm and in control. And oh yeah, a team player. In other words, you're wonderful, congratulations. Navy blue in particular is the most likely color to be hired in.

 

Gray is a very close second, right behind blue.  It's sophisticated, but not distracting, and it conveys self-sufficiency and capability. Depending on your personality, it can also stress your individuality, which could be good or bad depending on the role and the business culture. The bottom line is that when you wear gray, you are minimizing distractions, so it is a good choice when you feel that you are a strong candidate and want the interviewer to really focus on your answers.

 

Black is a serious color, one often associated with leadership, so it has to be worn correctly to communicate sophistication and authority, rather than drama, or an elitist attitude, or a fine-dining waiter. It's not nearly as dangerous and overpowering as red, but much like red, it's safer to use as an accent color rather than a primary color, unless it's for a very high-level position.

 

As for white, the most common ways to use it are as a white shirt/blouse. This look is classic, but is best either under a jacket or in some way accented with other another color. White (or beige) by itself can either feel smart or safe...or dull, so when you sit down behind the interviewer's desk - and at that point, their view is primarily from the waist up - make sure it's not the only color that they can see.

Happy hunting,
The Bravedale Group

 

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