Ace that interview with classy clothes

By Shannon Milliken
The Collegian

Recent Fresno State graduate Jenay Kosko knows the meaning of dressing for success.

Kosko graduated last December with a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies and earned her teaching credential in May.

She interviewed with Clovis Unified School District in the spring and was hired to teach 4th grade at Century Elementary School.

Kosko said she was very conscious about what she wore to the interview. “I think that first impressions are very important, so if you can give yourself an air of confidence with your dress, that gives you a foot in the door,” Kosko said.

She remembers exactly what she wore to the interview: a black pants suit and black pumps. “I knew what to wear because someone told me that you should always try to dress better than the people you are interviewing with, because they already have the job and you don’t,” Kosko said.

An expert on the subject, Nina Dilbeck, a professor of fashion merchandising at Fresno State, agrees with Kosko. Dilbeck said students going to job interviews should “do their homework” as to how people at the company dress, and then dress better.

Dilbeck touches on this area in most of the courses that she teaches at Fresno State, because she believes it is an important aspect of getting a job. “People going to an interview should look professional, otherwise they’re not going to be taken seriously,” Dilbeck said.

Fresno State Career Services has specific tips on how to do exactly that.

According to Daryl Fitzgerald, recruitment coordinator of employer relations, one of the services Career Services provides to students is materials with diagrammed directions for dressing each part of the male and female body.

For women, the diagram shows they should pull their hair back, limit jewelry to one ring and one watch, wear a suit or blazer, a skirt with a hem just below the knee, skin-tone nylons and medium heeled closed toe pumps.

“Number one is to make sure you have comfortable clothing on,” Fitzgerald said. “If your skirt is too short when you sit down in front of your interviewers, you will be distracted during the interview.”

The diagram also warns women against bare shoulders or low necklines. “Pretty much cleavage free,” Fitzgerald said. “Also, both ladies and men should try to stick to traditional colors. Nothing that just says ‘ah!’”

For men, the diagram shows they should have a clean haircut, be clean shaven, wear a pressed suit of traditional color and fabric, wear a white or light blue collared shirt, make sure socks match their shoes, have shoes polished, no lint and no suspenders if wearing a belt.

Fitzgerald advises both genders stick to the traditional business colors of black, blue or gray.

Also, he said males and females should be aware that cologne and perfume can be overwhelming in a interview room that is not well ventilated, so they should be avoided.

Career Services conducts interview workshops where these dressing tips are explained and a diagram and handbook are given out.

The Career Services handbook emphasizes a conservative, polished look with a highlight on how to achieve this while on a budget.

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