For a woman in search of starting or reigniting a career, the focus of a job interview should be discussion, not distraction.
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According to Aimee Urban, general manager for Way Services, that means that even details such as jewelry, shoes, hair, nails and other matters of presentation should be a consideration for an applicant of any age.
Go "conservative with the jewelry," Urban advised, citing an inexpensive strand of pearls as an appropriate accessory. That's better than big, clunky or flashy pieces. Plus, "earrings should be small," Urban said.
Shoes, the love of many a woman's life, should be selected for ease of walking. "Shoes are tough for girls," Urban admitted, but big heels, stilettos and other trendy footwear are not for the office.
Kathleen Green, job-hunting at age 19, agrees — for safety reasons. "They might have a cobblestone driveway, for all you know!" she said.
Green also plays it safe by carrying a kind of survival kit, which might include "a little foundation or powder" for a last-minute toning down of shiny skin.
Hair, while it should be clean and neat, doesn't have to be pulled back into the businesswoman's bun of yore. "As long as it doesn't have any crazy colors in it," Urban is fine with a woman's individual hairstyle.
And nails? Fluorescent polish and jeweled accents might be great for a night on the town, but it's a focus-killer for a potential employer.
"All they are seeing," Urban said, "are your nails, flashing in front of them!"
Oh, and let's not forget a woman's favorite sidekick. "Your purse can really tell you a lot, so be careful!" said Green. She gave an example of one bag-related no-no: "If you have a Hello Kitty purse and you are going on a job interview. ..."
Below are more tips, courtesy of Career Services at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, commonly referred to as Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va. A complete site dedicated to job interview attire can be found at
http://tinyurl.com/mheu9h.
These hints, by the way, apply to guys, as well!
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Shoes: Should be in polished condition. Make sure heels are not worn down.
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Hands: Clean fingernails.
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Fit: Clothes should be clean, neatly pressed and fit properly.
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Smell: Perfume or cologne should be used sparingly or not at all. No odors in clothes. Don't smell like smoke.
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Pad folios: Preferred over a bulky briefcase. A small briefcase is also appropriate. But if you have no reason to carry a briefcase, don't; you risk looking silly.
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Book bag: Leave it at home for an on-site interview. For an on- campus interview, you can leave it in the waiting area.
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Some final details: No missing buttons, no lint and don't forget to remove external tags and tacking stitches from new clothes.
Stephen Kopfinger is a Sunday News staff writer. Contact him at skopfinger@lnpnews.com or at 291-8799.
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