Looking for a new job in 2024? Lose the wacky ties but tattoos are fine

Dressing well for job interviews: Out with wacky ties, but piercings and tattoos are fine

Dressing for interview: Your choice of clothing for a job interview is still an important way of indicating to a potential employer that you are serious about the role you're applying for. Picture: iStock

As the old saying goes — ‘clothes make the man’ — and, of course, women too. 

But what works best in the brave new casual/hybrid workplace of 2024? 

Traditionally, what one wears is taken by others as an essential signal of status. 

The writer Mark Twain declared “clothes do not merely make the man, clothes are the man; without them he is a nobody.” Does the same hold true in 2024?

Part of preparing for a job interview is making sure you are going to come across as a good addition to their company, goes the advice at Monster.ie —  one of the first commercial websites recognised for its job search as being a pioneer of online recruitment Appearances shouldn’t matter, but the plain fact is that you are often judged before you’ve even uttered a word. 

Aim to dress one level up from what you would expect to be wearing if you got the job. It hints at your desire to progress and succeed within their company. 

If in doubt, always go for a classic plain business suit. Both male and female versions come in all shapes and sizes and can be picked up relatively cheaply. Combined with a clean shirt and preferably a tie, you’re unlikely to feel out of place.

 Essentially, if you feel comfortable, you’ll act comfortably which is vital in a pressure interview situation. 

 

Dressing the part is never something that will get you the job, regardless of how clean your shirt or shiny your shoes. 

However, it could put the employer off if you fail to follow some basic rules.

Not too casual:  If you get the vibe that casual is okay then stay on the smart side of casual. Ripped jeans, threadbare t-shirts and scruffy trainers should all be left at home. A smart pair of jeans and an open necked shirt is the bare minimum that is expected.

No headwear: Under no circumstances wear a cap, beanie or hoodie to an interview. There are obvious religious and medical exceptions to this rule.

Get the right fit: If you’ve had to borrow an ill-fitting suit for an interview, or just generally like to wear your clothes a little too loose or tight, try and find something a little more regular.

Wacky ties: As hilarious as you think they are, your interviewer is unlikely to see you as a new fun addition to the team, instead seeing someone who’s not serious about the job.

Don’t accessorise too much: Remember you want your interviewer to be concentrating on what you’re saying, not the obscure purple broach you’re wearing.

Piercings and tattoos: Another feature that is increasingly common, and one unlikely to deter an employer. If you can’t remove them, keep any studs small and cover any offensive or obscene body art.