THE BILINGUAL JOB FAIR BLOG

The Biggest Mistakes Job Candidates Make at Job Fairs: Job Fair Mistake #3

December 11, 2009

We’ve all heard the common saying, “Dress for the job you want”. This is an important idea to remember when attending a job fair, and should help you avoid the last common mistake on my list:

Mistake #3:  Inappropriate attire

Too many times, I’ve seen job seekers attend job fairs dressed too casually to make a good first impression. When getting dressed for a job fair, where you may meet your next employer, do not make the same clothing choices that you would if you were going to the mall or to a concert. The more professional you look, the better the impression you will make. The opposite is also true.

My advice: when dressing to attend a job fair, select apparel that does not detract from your professional image. Here are some guidelines that you can follow.

For men:
Acceptable options for men (cleaned and ironed, of course):
• A suit, including a jacket & a tie
• A blazer and a nice pair of pants, with no tie
• A nice pair of pants, and a nice shirt, with no tie

With all of these options, clean, polished shoes are your best bet.

Clothing to avoid:
• Jeans
• T-shirts
• Sneakers or other casual shoes

For women:
Acceptable options for women (cleaned and ironed, of course):
• A suit (a jacket with matching pants or skirt)
• A dress
• A blouse and a nice pair of pants

Clothing to avoid:
• Dresses and skirts that are shorter than knee-length
• Transparent or tight-fitting clothing
• Low necklines
• Jeans
• T-shirts
• Sneakers or other casual shoes

Note: If choosing to wear perfume, it should not be strong. Keep the accessories simple, including simple earrings, rather than large dangling ones. The idea is to keep the focus and attention on your credentials, not on your appearance. Your attire should help you create the impression of being a professional and should not be a distraction.

Filed under: Job Hunting

Tags: Bilingual Job Fair, job fair, job fairs, Job Hunting, job search