There are three golden rules when it comes to dressing for interviews: dress to impress, be comfortable and let your personality shine through. The first crucial job for a salesperson is to sell themselves to a prospective employer, and with only one chance at a first impression, it’s important to get it right.
Whether you’re male or female, traditional advice for an interview in any sector is smart business dress. Ben Brogden, manager of the sales and marketing division at the multilingual recruiter Euro London Appointments, says: “You have just nine to 12 seconds to create that first impression, so what you wear has a big impact. A suit is recommended, as it is smart and professional – but as basic as it sounds, make sure it’s clean and fits well.”
The basics
It is important to get the basics right. For men, this means a simple grey, navy or black suit, a plain shirt and tie, a clean shave and shiny shoes. For women, a knee-length skirt, plain conservative blouse, smart shoes and well-presented hair, make-up and nails.
“The key thing to remember is that you need to present yourself in a way that demonstrates your professionalism, that shows you are serious about the job and that doesn’t distract attention away from your skills,” says Ben. “Let your personality shine through – don’t let bad presentation get in the way.”
Company culture
It's important to take into account the company’s culture when planning what to wear. “Sales professionals need to ask themselves, do they fit the brand?” says Romy Sembi, managing director at Aura Sales.
Sembi advises actually looking at the product or service you will be selling for the company and try to dress so you fit into the organisation’s image.
“If you are going for a role with a luxury magazine in media sales or for an advertising agency, for example, they will take into account your image,” says Sembi. “So go for smart business dress, but something quirky, like red stitching on your suit, funky shoes, or a different-coloured lapel. Depending on the company, you want to fit the image — make it obvious you can work for them and fit right in.”
It really depends on the company but be subtle when it comes to tattoos and piercings. Check with the company prior to your interview what their dress policy is. “Is it an online sales role? If it is formal, how formal?” says Sembi. “If you are suited and booted, you might stick out like a sore thumb."
Think on your feet
One thing agreed on is that shoes say a lot about a person. Taylor advises men go for classic brogues, or Oxford styles, but the basic rule is to keep your shoes clean and shiny. Sarah Evans at Discovery Graduates agrees: “Probably the biggest feedback we get from companies and in particular sales directors is that they look at people’s shoes.”
Finally, it's important to be comfortable. “An interview is a stressful enough situation as it is, so don’t add to that by wearing something you have never worn before and something you feel quite uncomfortable or self-conscious in. So certainly make sure that your shoes aren’t pinching your feet, or your jacket is not too small, again so you are not distracting from something you have to say in your interview,” says Evans.
When it comes to what to wear, the important thing is to be well-presented from top to toe and make sure you stand out, but for the right reasons. As for the interview itself, see our guide Before, during and after the interview. Good luck.
