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How to Dress for an Interview: Summer Edition

An interview begins the second the hiring manager lays eyes on you. Your suit, your posture, and your handshake are evaluated even before they've had a chance to delve into your resume.

Ideally you'll look sharp and have a resume that will dazzle even the most meticulous of recruiters. There's little we can do to dress up your application, but we can help ensure you are appropriately dressed. Interviewing is always challenging, however, it can be especially hard during the summer months. And sadly for men, the fact that it's summer doesn't have a significant effect on your dress.

Never fear, be sure to follow these simple do's and don'ts to help you keep your cool at your next interview.

Do: Wear a full suit – even if it's hot out.

Unfortunately, if you're scheduled for an interview in the summer heat, Mother Nature might not be accommodating when it comes to temperature. However, you should always wear a full suit to your interview: jacket, pants, dress shirt, and tie, regardless of how high the mercury rises. Your interviewers will be aware of the weather so it is appropriate to ask them once you are seated if you may take off your jacket in order to cool down. Don't worry, they'll oblige.

Note: If you have a propensity to sweat, stick to a traditional white dress shirt so that when you take your jacket off the stains aren't visible. Avoid dark blues and grays.

Do: Wear a tie.

Even if your friends have raved about the laid-back office culture, there is no such thing as being over-dressed for an interview. Even if the rest of the employees are in t-shirts and shorts, it's your job to impress those who are considering hiring you; a great way to do that is to look as sophisticated as possible. Pair a nice neck tie with your suit to achieve a fashionable yet classy look.

Do: Wear socks.

Now that you know how to find dress pants that fit well, when seated, your dress pants should rise about two inches up your leg. With that said, when you take a seat at the interview table you don't want to expose mismatched colored socks or worse, your bare leg. Much like a tie, your socks are a good avenue to express your personal style; a flamboyant pair can be well-integrated into your outfit while still adhering to interview dress code.

Don't: Wear loud colors.

A job interview is not the forum to express yourself. You can still look stylish in a gray, blue, or black suit. If you're itching to add a splash of color then choose a solid-colored tie, but avoid the neon and zebra stripes.

When you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good, you'll feel confident. Take over the interview room and give them no choice but to offer you the job!