How to dress for a job interview: Your tie
In this article we are going to focus on the importance of ties in job interviews. When considering how to dress for a job interview, your tie can have a big impact on the overall interaction.
One of the most stressful things about a job interview is thinking about what to wear. More specifically, which of your many ties is the most appropriate?
Of course, there are job interviews that would never require you to wear a tie, but then you wouldn’t be here in the first place. If the job you are interviewing for requires any degree of professionalism, then wearing a tie should come as completely obvious to you; even if you wouldn’t actually be required to wear one on the job.
Why you should wear a tie to an interview
Sometimes when figuring out how to dress for a job interview, the importance of wearing a tie can be overlooked. The reason you should wear a tie to a job interview is because it conveys a certain sense of professionalism. This is a particularly excellent attribute to portray when making a first impression.
Now you may be thinking, “But, a tie is for a paper pushers, I need to stand out.”
Going to an interview with a naked neck signals to the interviewer one of two things:
- You didn’t care enough to get properly dressed, which shows you may not care about actually getting the job.
- That you didn’t take the time to find a suitable tie, which can be seen as lazy or related to a poor work ethic.
As mentioned earlier, some jobs may not actually require you to wear a tie while at the office or on site. However, it is still very important that you make a good first impression.
Now lets get into the details.
Size of the tie
Slimmer ties are what is in style today. A slim tie matches well with a slim cut suit and can really compliment your overall look. There is a difference, however, between a slim tie, and a skinny tie. A slim tie refers to any tie with a maximum width of 2 to 3 inches. A skinny tie refers to a tie with a width of about 1 to 2 inches.
Whichever style you choose, the total width (the largest point of the tie) should range between 1.5 to 3 inches.
Although vintage is always in, please resist to grab one of your dad’s older ties if its width is larger than 3 inches. A larger tie is highly unlikely to properly match your suit. Even if it has a very nice pattern. If you are wearing a modern cut suit, the proportions will be all wrong.
Briefly put, your tie width should match the width of you lapel. You can read more about tie proportions in this informative article.
If your prospective work environment is more laid back, you may want to consider wearing a skinny tie. A skinny tie can show that you don’t take yourself too seriously, but that you still handle yourself professionally. However, it must be said that skinny ties are typically better suited on men with a slimmer frame.
If you’re still not sure about which type of tie to choose: Wear a what we’ve described as a slim tie. Something between 2 to 3 inches.
Colour
We’ll give you the tldr here: stick with anything blue or red to be on the safe side. Read on to learn what these and other colours convey!
Whether you believe it or not, there are many studies that support the fact that the colour of your tie. These studies examine the effects on how you are perceived by those around you based on the colour of your tie. Some studies even suggest that your tie’s colour can actually subconsciously influence people.
One of the main reasons you should wear a blue tie is because it conveys intelligence and trustworthiness. Essentially, a blue tie makes people feel like they can connect and depend on you.
Red, on the other hand, does not convey trustworthiness. However, people will instead perceive you as ambitious, passionate and strong. Red ties can also symbolize power. You should be aware that a red tie may subliminally intimidate people. So when figuring out how to dress for a job interview, you may want to consider toning it down. This can easily be achieved by going with a darker shade of, or even burgundy.
Burgundy is a magnificent colour that you can wear year round and is very easy to match. A solid burgundy tie can match very well with a charcoal grey or dark blue suit. Your red tie can also be toned down with a pattern.
Purple represents wealth and royalty, as well as teal. So unless you are related to the Queen of England, avoid these colors for an interview if you can. That is not to say it cannot be done. It is just harder to find the right match tone for one of these colours.
A yellow tie will tell your interviewer that you are creative and very happy. These are pretty good qualities to communicate during an interview, but a solid yellow tie will not provide you with an aura of professionalism. Try instead to have a yellow tie with blue or red patterns, or vice versa.
In Conclusion
We hope this article was of help to you. If there are any other colours that you would like some a second opinion on, don’t hesitate to reach out!
You can also come visit us in store should you ever need more in depth assistance. We are always happy to answer any questions and give you a hand!
P.S. We didn’t mention black ties for a reason. If you’re thinking about a black tie, just don’t. You’re not going to a wedding, the Oscars or a funeral. You’re going to get a job, don’t look weird.