Asking that gorgeous girl at the bar for her phone number? Yeah, that’s nerve-racking.  Asking her Dad if you can marry his daughter? Yep, that’s an armpit fountain waiting to happen. Going before the judge to have your 3 DUIs heard?  Oh sure, that’s a bad one.  All challenging, all tough to get through, no doubt. But standing above all of them is perhaps the harshest of all the “man, it feels as if my family jewels have completely receded into my pancreas” moments that we all men must conquer – the job interview. 

When you think that you prepare for this moment most of your life (your grades, your test scores, your degree, your extracurrics!), it’s enough to make any guy develop chronic sweaty palms and unsightly facial ticks.  What’s more, it’s competitive as hell.  See, when you ask your woman’s father for his permission to marry his daughter, at least you’re not actually competing against three, five, twelve other faceless people.  It’s just you and him. You ask, he answers, it’s over. 

In order to get ahead of those other yahoos trying to grab that coveted job right out of your mitts, you need every advantage you can muster. Know that a lot of very bright, very talented men never make the step up to the next professional level because they don’t present well.  Interview Day is a day of intellectual and emotional combat. It’s exhausting and requires endurance and immense concentration. When we declared victory in World War II in Japan, we called it VJ Day. When we declared victory in Europe, we called it VE Day. Here’s the quick and dirty on dressing for Interview Day so you can declare your own VI Day.

The Suit

A job interview is not a navy blazer/khaki affair.  This is true suit territory and if you don’t have one, you need to own. Check our Suit Section for suit basics so you’re educated and prepared.  For the interview, a few tips on the suit:

• The suit should be either navy or a charcoal gray. It should not be black, olive, brown, cream, purple or violently plaid. All of these make great suit colors (except purple, Prince) but not for interview day.
• It is ok to wear subtle patterns. Stripes should be a thin chalk-stripe and they should be subtle;  muted glen plaids are OK, too.  You are not P. Diddy and this is not the Video Music Awards.
• Single-breasted – yes. Double-breasted – no. Three piece suit – funny, you’re funny.
• Be sure that you have your cleaner press the suit in advance so it’s not rumpled looking come game time.

The Shirt and Tie

We don't believe that your only option for a job interview is a white dress shirt and an unobtrusive tie. Why? Because your interviewer is most likely considering several prospects for the position - some men, some women -- and you want to be remembered. But there is a very fine line between being rememberd positively and being rememberd because you showed up in something inappropriate, like a denim shirt with a cheeseball tie with fish on it that the guys at Circuit City wouldn’t even wear. Instead, be remembered for the right reasons.

• If you go for a colored shirt, blue is good. Cream is good. Pink, light green and lavender aren’t appropriate. Black is bad. Ditto for navy, red, olive or dark grey. Who are you, Uncle Junior?
• You can wear a patterned shirt. The pattern should be subtle, such as muted stripes or checks.  It should not be the loud, raucous Versace or Diesel shirt you might wear for clubbing.
• Because you’re wearing the shirt with a suit, you should wear a shirt with a straight collar that gives you a more formal, professional image. This is not button-down, oxford shirt territory, which is too casual for a formal job interview.
• Your tie can have some personality – an elegant personality. A small geometric patterned tie, a repp striped tie, or a solid color tie are appropriate.  You’re going for class, so keep your super-skinny, Panic! At The Disco ties at home. Same goes for brightly colored ties.
• Blue shirt, muted purple tie – nice.  Cream shirt, maroon repp tie – great.  Black shirt, silver tie – Six Feet Under.

The Shoes

When you wear a suit for business, the proper shoe is a lace-up oxford. Not a lace-up boot, not a slip-on loafer, not a cowboy boot, and not a boat shoe. After you get the job, you can relax the protocol, but for Interview Day, now is not the time to let your footwear show off your passions for Alan Jackson, sailing or motocross.

• Shoe colors should be black, brown or cordovan. We both own some cool lace-ups in that lighter English tan (or whatever that color’s called), but it’s too attention-grabbing and therefore not appropriate for the interview.
• The shoe style should be a wing-tip, a cap-toe, or a smooth oxford. No alligator weaves, Huggy Bear.
• Shine your shoes until you can see your own nosehair in the reflection. It’s a great unspoken way to demonstrate your attention to detail.

The Little Things

The emphasis in a job interview will be placed on your experience, what you say and how you say it.  But a savvy interviewer will also take note of your entire package and how it’s presented.  Women know this and have their earrings match their watch and their nails match their lipstick.  Guys are smart if they remember to take their earring out.

• Leave all your bling at home, period.
• Put on your best, dressiest watch. If you don’t own one, buy an inexpensive one at a department store. It looks a lot classier than a digital sports watch or some plastic Fossil number, and class is what you're going for.
• Be sure any and all tattoos are covered completely, unless you’re trying out for the NBA.
• Your belt color should match your shoes.
• Your socks should match your pants, not your shoes.
• Bring a slim attaché, briefcase or portfolio to the interview with a couple copies of your resume, a pen, and a decent notebook to take notes. Not a backpack and not a free-flying manila folder.

You’re trying to present yourself as the kind of person a company would want to see on a daily basis.  So you’re really selling all aspects of yourself, beyond whatever accomplishments and credentials you’ve amassed.  Knowing that you look crisp, classy and damn good when you walk in to that interviewer’s office is the first step in selling yourself in person.  You’ll give off a positive air of confidence before you even open your mouth.  Now go out there and crush the competition.  It’s time to declare your own VI Day.