Grooming and accessories for interviews

Do you know that during a job interview your business attire is more important than you think?
How would you like: your talent and personality, or your shocking pink nail polish get you noticed?

With the appropriate business attire, surely it helps you to enhance the right impression on the day of your interview.

The 3 tips for your interview:

1. Fragrance
2. Personal Hygiene

3. Accessories

1. Fragrance

Avoid using too much perfume, cologne, or aftershave, as not everyone like your favourite fragrance as much as you do, and you do not want your fragrance overwhelm your interviewer. You may use sparingly; ideally the person next to you shouldn’t able to smell your fragrance.

Do not attempt to use fragrance to cover your body odor, in fact, it will have chemical reaction and believe me it doesn’t smell plesent at all. For how to cope with body odor, please refer to Personal Hygiene.

2. Personal Hygiene

Ensure your nails are clean and trimmed, no shocking color nail polish nor any Nail Art, as your interviewer will think you spent more time on your own beauty than work.

Make sure your hair is clean and well trimmed, especially men’s sideburn should be trimmed tidily and ladies hair should be tidy and neat. Avoid being frizzy. Hair products such as hard wax should do the trick.

Beware bad breath and body odor. Avoid eating anything that would give you bad breath such as onions or garlic before going to the interview. Alternatively, chew some chewing gum before going to the interview but make sure you dispose it before entering into the job interviewing company. The best way to eliminate body odor is to detoxify your toxic, visit your nutritionist or naturopathy doctor. In the mean time, you can use underarm care products such as underarm sweat sheet or deodorant to prevent embarrassment.

3. Accessories

Keep interview accessories minimal and professional. Women should not have any dangling jewelry and no more than 1 pair of earrings. Men should limit their jewelry to wristwatch and cufflinks only. Face (body) jewelry and ankle bracelets are prohibited for both men and women at an interview.

Although there are exceptions for various industries, remember that an interview is not the place for fashion statement, so go for conservative option when you are in doubt.

Written by Rigel Ng

Vice President of Events of the AICI Hong Kong Chapter
Touch Up Production
T:96505018 F: 25505220
mailto:rigelng@yahoo.com.hk