<p>I have strange style.
(I'm female)
I generally wear lots of animal prints, bright colors and sort of ratty clothes. I ALWAYS wear my dr. martens, they are electric blue with daisies and a little dirty (really not too bad). I almost always wear a t-shirt with some sort of sassy saying/band name.</p>
<p>What should I do for the interview? I REALLY don't want to compromise my own style but I also don't want to be disrespectful and I know there can be a fine line.</p>
<p>If I wear that with an electric blue cardigan and a black skirt is that fancy enough? (with my docs)</p>
<p>Sorry if this seems silly but I know I'll kick myself if I don't get in and this could have maybe contributed.</p>
<p>Oh, and art (performing and visual) is a pretty big part of my life and I guess you could say that I look artsy and want that to come across without looking too sloppy.</p>
<p>and what about make-up? Do you think an interviewer is more likely to respect someone who isn't wearing makeup (I generally don't) over a girl who looks too made up?</p>
I ALWAYS wear my dr. martens, they are electric blue with daisies and a little dirty (really not too bad). I almost always wear a t-shirt with some sort of sassy saying/band name.
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Don't wear those. </p>
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I'm really interested in being a premed, do you think this shirt is appropriate? I know you're not supposed to wear shirts with things printed on them but this combines my academic interests with my sense of humor and the way I dress: BustedTees<em>-</em>I<em>Heart</em>Accuracy
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<p>It's cutesy but I doubt that your interviewer will notice it, especially if you're wearing a cardigan over it. Honestly, I'd go with something a bit more conservative </p>
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If I wear that with an electric blue cardigan and a black skirt is that fancy enough? (with my docs)
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<p>That seems fine except for the docs</p>
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and what about make-up? Do you think an interviewer is more likely to respect someone who isn't wearing makeup (I generally don't) over a girl who looks too made up?
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<p>Neither. Makeup can help you look more put together. There isn't a black and white distinction with makeup. I suggest that you do use makeup but try for a natural look that simply evens your skin tone and covers up some blemishes. Avoid garish lipsticks and bright blue eye color things.</p>
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I REALLY don't want to compromise my own style but I also don't want to be disrespectful and I know there can be a fine line.
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<p>You'd be disrespectful to show up wearing a t-shirt or doc martens, particularly if you're interviewing at someone's business office. There's a time and a place for everything. Part of being a mature young adult is getting over yourself and ditching the "f-- you I don't want to compromise my own style and I'm going to wear whatever the heck I want and I don't care what you think" attitude.</p>
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and what about make-up? Do you think an interviewer is more likely to respect someone who isn't wearing makeup (I generally don't) over a girl who looks too made up?
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<p>Do whatever makes you look best. Attractive people are perceived better by interviewers than ugly people are. To the extent that extra make up makes you look worse than you'd look without that extra makeup, then it's bad to have too much make up. E.g., Katherine</a> Heigl @ Oscars 2008 - Photo Gallery | Just Jared</p>
<p>when I saw this topic, I just HAD to reply.</p>
<p>anyway, my school had this little seminar thing where jp morgan employees visited and gave up some one on one pep talk on how to make a good impression. all the questions i asked were about how to dress, because essentially, your attire will convey some of your personality. so here's what I got out of that whole experience:</p>
<p>shoes: agreeing with what everyone else has been saying, ditch the doc martens. I left my combat boots at home for a day for my MIT interview; you'll live without them for a day. maybe a pair of flats? mary janes?</p>
<p>makeup: if you don't normally wear makeup, no need to wear it now. because after all, you're want to show your interviewer who you are, not who you think they want to see. a light concealer and some tinted chapstick will do if you're feeling insecure.</p>
<p>top: the shirt is witty but is just not appropriate for an interview. I can tell you seem like somewhat of the grunge rocker, so there's plenty of things you can wear without compromising your style. I went for a button up collared shirt with a corset styled waist (you could only see the ribbons on the back anyway)</p>
<p>bottoms: the skirt sounds fine. if you don't want to look like you're dressing for a funeral, go for a somewhat flowy black skirt instead of an A-line pencil skirt</p>
<p>others: my biggest concern was my hair. I don't know how your hair is but I had blue and red streaks and decided to get rid of those temporarily. I did however keep my bright blonde streaks because they were not that noticeable.</p>
<p>just remember, be who you are, but a more "composed" you. don't do or wear something you normally won't, but don't wear what you'd wear to a concert either. if you need any opinions, feel free to PM. trust me, it may not be a big deal for guys (or even most girls) but choosing an outfit is NOT easy.</p>
<p>If I wear that with an electric blue cardigan and a black skirt is that fancy enough? (with my docs)</p>
<p>Like everyone else: ditch the docs.</p>
<p>I interview candidates, and I wouldn't be happy if you showed up in grungy clothes--although I really don't mind them otherwise. Keep it simple, keep it conservative--like everyone else is saying.</p>
<p>For makeup--a touch of eyeliner, mascara, concealer if you need it, and lightly tinted lipgloss.</p>
<p>If your hair tends to get unruly, tie it up, or straighten it. columbia isn't a conservative place (at all)--but don't dress to reflect the campus. Better safe than sorry.</p>
<p>Just to underscore what everyone else has said:</p>
<p>Your personal choice of style helps reflect the impression you're trying to give off. Ordinarily, you want to give off a funky, independent sort of style. That's fine.</p>
<p>In this interview situation, though, you're trying to impress the interviewer with your dignity, intelligence, and most of all MATURITY. The style to support that is fairly conservative business casual. If you show up in a tshirt and doc martens you'll be viewed as a kid. If you show up looking like you could step in and work at a bank (or close to it), you'll be viewed as an adult. First impressions matter, you only get one shot at them, and this is a big component of it. </p>
<p>The majority of what the interviewer will take away about your personality will be conveyed in the first 5 minutes - there's research on this. The image you present is worth almost as much as those words in those first 5 minutes. Give some work and consideration to your body language too, of course, but don't allow appearance to torpedo you, either.</p>
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The majority of what the interviewer will take away about your personality will be conveyed in the first 5 minutes - there's research on this.
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<p>Sadly, research says the int'ver may decide in 30 seconds or so.</p>
