Who gets the job?

The Experts

Sue Coulson group director of corporate services at Orbit Housing Group, says a good interview outfit is one the interviewer doesn’t notice. “When an outfit works, it doesn’t distract you and you don’t think about it again after the initial impression.” Clothes worn for religious reasons, she adds, make no difference so long as a candidate looks smart.

“Clients often make snap decisions based on appearance, so badly dressed candidates have an uphill struggle,” says Mary Hope (centre), senior consultant at recruitment specialist Bartlett Scott Edgar. “If someone’s in a badly organised outfit, you draw conclusions about how they would approach their work.”

Caroline Nordgreen (right), head of personal shopping at Dickins & Jones, Regent Street, London, helps customers choose outfits for job interviews. “I always get people to sit down in front of the mirror to see how the clothes will look in an interview – then you see if a skirt’s too short or trousers are uncomfortable,” she says.

The first jobber

Alison Curtis, housing assistant at Hyde Housing Group

Curtis graduated last year and joined Hyde via the temping route, doing basic administration and IT work. For work, she wears smart black trousers and a shirt, and boots. “I don’t think it feels right going in wearing normal clothes,” Curtis says. “It’s a business. But I can show my own character in my earrings or something.” She says she’d like her next move to be within the IT or finance field, to use the skills she learnt in her IT and business studies degree.

Expert verdict

Coulson: When you go to a job interview, you have to be able to forget about your clothes. This is an attempt to look smart, but what you’re saying is that you’re not very confident. If you’re serious about a job, you don’t wear trainers. The camisole is totally inappropriate, it’s too revealing.

Hope: Deciding what to wear to an interview is particularly difficult for people who work on the front line – they may have to wear a uniform or practical or informal clothes to do the job, but it’s different when you go to an interview. This looks too clubby – it’s not making the statement “I’m a serious person”. The cheap ostentatious corsage on the jacket and the puffed sleeve detail is too in-your-face.

Nordgreen: First jobbers or people who’ve just come out of university often can’t cope with putting on proper shoes, but the way round is to wear a boot you’re comfortable with. The trousers are fine but they’ve not been accessorised properly – they’d be better with some black knitwear and a boot. You don’t always have to spend a lot of money, but you need the right accessories.

Alison’s verdict:

This jacket’s very restrictive – I can’t move. I don’t feel very relaxed, and I’d feel really inappropriately dressed if I took the jacket off

Expert verdict

Coulson: There isn’t the expectation that you wear a suit at this level, but this is smart. She looks like someone who really wants the job – it’s obvious that she’s thought about what she wants to look like. The shoes are right with the trousers, it looks like she could wear them comfortably all day. Overall, there’s nothing that jumps out at you to distract from what she will say in the interview.

Hope: It’s all quite natural and understated – she’s not trying to pretend to be something she’s not. Clothes should fit with your personality. Here, the shirt’s quite a striking style so you do need a bit of confidence to wear something like that but she’s comfortable in it and it looks like she knows who she is. I’m not a fan of the “Goth look” – when young girls turn up wearing a lot of black – so it’s good that she’s gone for a different colour.

Nordgreen: This is presenting a clean silhouette and a sense of individuality. Her hair looks smart and efficient, and soft make-up gives a more polished look. In an interview, you’re vulnerable and you’re relying on clothes to give you a boost. You can hide behind clothes, but if they’re the wrong ones, it’s giving the wrong message.

Alison’s verdict:

This is fitted, but not so much that I can’t move. I love the pinstripe, and the trousers are really comfortable. It’s not too over the top

The middle manager

Michael Adu, contract manager and procurement manager, London borough of Lambeth

Michael joined Lambeth council as a monitoring officer 10 years ago, after a couple of years as a civil engineer. He was promoted internally to his new role two months ago, and says his golden rule for interview dressing is to be prepared. “I have my suit dry-cleaned well in advance and make sure I’ve got everything ready the night before – polished my shoes, chosen a shirt and tie that match.” Adu would like his next move to be to the corporate side of the council’s operations, as head of procurement.

Expert verdict

Coulson: Sue: For internal appointments, some people think they don’t need to bother but you have to prove you’re better than external people. This looks like he’s almost too relaxed about the opportunity. It’s too casual, and it’ll be difficult to convince people you’re up to the job. The jacket’s smart – with different trousers it could be all right. This much jewellery isn’t right for a job interview. It looks like he’s about to go off wheeler-dealing as opposed to going out and doing business for the organisation.

Hope: Not a lot of thought has gone into this look. You should dress for the season – chinos look summery, but it’s October now. The shirt needs to be tucked in, and you need to put on a tie to make it look smart. People often dress in this way to see a recruitment consultant, because they think it doesn’t matter – but they’re looking on behalf of clients and their reputation depends on it, so they’re likely to be more critical.

Nordgreen: This outfit is more suited to someone coming straight from university or college, not for a management position. The whole of your appearance is important – and that includes footwear. He should ditch the trainers and get into some shoes. The shirt should coordinate with the trousers and should have a button-down collar, not an open neck. This is too relaxed an image.

Michael’s verdict:

Would I wear this outfit for an interview? Not for a job I wanted! It seems too casual, I don’t really feel comfortable in it

Expert verdict

Coulson: This is really smart – it tells me he means business. The stripe says he’s got a bit of character, without being in-your-face. I always look at men’s shoes to see that they’re clean and polished and that the style is appropriate for the suit.

Hope: He’s someone who cares about how they look – and therefore about the job. His clothes aren’t ostentatious; they’re quite low key so they don’t get in the way. He seems like a professional guy who’s confident and relaxed.

Nordgreen: His shirt and tie are quite an individual choice – they’re a good colour for his skin and they sharpen up the suit. He’s made a statement and shows he’s not afraid to take a risk. The shoes are smart without being classic City brogues. It shows a bit of individuality, that he’s aware of the current scene.

Michael’s verdict:

I’d definitely wear this suit. It’s smart but not overpowering – for a housing job, you don’t want to look like a City slicker. The stripe’s nice but not too bold

The senior executive

Jayne Hilditch, director of resources at the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment

Hilditch clearly knows how to dress for job interviews – she’ll be joining Notting Hill Housing Group in December as group director of corporate services after 18 months at CABE. She comes from an accountancy background, and has worked at Servite and Winchester Housing Group. “Having been in a position where I recruit staff, you’re looking at their qualifications, but there’s no question that first impressions count,” says Hilditch.

Expert verdict

Coulson: For an executive position, you want someone with drive and enthusiasm – this doesn’t demonstrate that. It’s mumsy. It’s an interesting mix of things – how carefully has she thought about what she’s wearing? I would think this candidate was a bit disorganised.

Hope: The comfort of the unstructured tweedy jacket and shoes don’t match the shiny party top – it’s incongruous. Big bags are really fasionable, but if she’s got to carry a lot of things for the interview, she should have brought a briefcase. Even if you never open it, it’s a symbol of your working persona. It shows you mean business.

Nordgreen: I would never put this lot together, it makes her look too masculine, it’s too boxy. It’s someone trying to look trendy – they’ve taken current themes, but by pairing a long skirt with flat shoes, they’ve lost it. I’d wear a boot instead. And the shiny top – anything with a shine attracts attention and in a very male environment this might be highlighting parts you don’t want them staring at.

Jayne’s verdict:

This is very mumsy – I defintely wouldn’t wear it

Expert verdict

Coulson: On first impressions, I wouldn’t worry – she looks like someone who gets on with the job, so then I’d test that in the interview. It’s not to everyone’s taste, but it suits her personality. It’s a nice neckline, it’s not exposing anything so people can concentrate on what you say in the interview.

Hope: This is a very practical, no-nonsense, neat and tidy look. Efficient, business-like, she knows what the job’s about and can do it. In the interview, I’d be wanting to test her interpersonal skills and the softer side, to make sure she wasn’t too severe and that she’d be a supportive colleague.

Nordgreen: The outfit gives her a good presence. Dressing in a trouser suit shows she’s not totally conservative. She’s got authority but she’s approachable, capable of going into lots of situations but also stepping into a man’s world.

Jayne’s verdict:

This is probably the way I market myself – a hard-nosed professional but not grey-suited