How To Dress For An Interview...

[Harry Palmer]

dressing for success...

so you’ve read my previous thread on applying for that job & have been successful, despite all the odds. so the big arrives & you ask the question... just how should i present myself at the interview... what to wear… well never mind... my extensive education in the field of ELT & years of experience in interviewing candidates for the most pre-eminent english language schools in, is on hand…

Men

solid colour, conservative suit, the jacket is optional but I like to see one

white long sleeve shirt, clean & pressed with sharp lines

conservative tie

dark socks, professional shoes that are highly polished

very limited jewellery

neat, professional hairstyle unless you are a baldy man of course

please go easy on the aftershave, i have a sensitive hooter

neatly trimmed nails, toe nails as well

portfolio or briefcase

Women

solid color, conservative suit, the jacket is optional but I like to see one…

coordinated blouse,

moderate shoes, please no 6" heels

limited jewelry, perhaps a wedding ring

neat, professional hairstyle

tan or light hosiery

sparse make-up & perfume, its a teaching job not a clowns convention

manicured nails, optional polish but keep to pastel shades

portfolio or briefcase

please let me know id i have ommitted anything... sure you will

///Moderator has omitted quite a bit, but not the extra m in "ommitted"///PB

Edited September 14, 2006 by PeaceBlondie

[Buki]

Shirt, tie always does the trick + a pair of new shoes.Thai's respect face value! plenty of bull goes a long way too!

That's very true. The the first thing that the school director did was to look at me from head to toe.

[ilyushin]

Brooks Brothers NYC Only the best!

[chingching]

neatly trimmed nails, toe nails as well

This is good to know, because I wasn't sure whether to wear shoes or flip flops with the suit. Now that I know I can wear my flip-flops, should the flip flops match the suit color, or the color of my tie?

Thx.

[PeaceBlondie]

The flip flops should match your earrings, nosering, and eyebrow-ring.

Wearing US$1,900 worth of clothing, to interview for a job that pays $750 per month, might be overdoing it. So would a tuxedo, or coat and tails. OTOH, a bikini is not enough.

[Buki]

What about the "bling-bling"?

[Thaiboxer]

Your appearance is considered more important here than in the West from what I understand. However, schools are so desparate these days, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it; if you look halfway decent and put on a smile, most of them will take you.

[chuchok]

That's very true. The the first thing that the school director did was to look at me from head to toe.

Not a bad effort dragging a thread up that was 2 years old.is that you harry?

[PeaceBlondie]

The subject is always an old chestnut that's worth gnawing on.

Yes, appearance is very important. There's no sense in not looking good for an interview. Clean, smelling good, decent clothing, no spinach in your teeth, no dragon's breath, etc. But please, not a suit, not even a sports jacket in this weather. But a tie, for sure. I like to wear the color of the day (orange for Thursday, etc.). And for men, black leather tie shoes, or at least conservative loafers.

But if your wardrobe was freshly purchased at Tesco-Lotus, you may be fine (the interviewer may shop there, too). Unless you're applying for a job as CEO of a multinational corporation; then have it custom made in Paris.

[richard10365]

I think in Thailand, if you walk in with your bachelors degree covering your private parts and your work visa in your hand then you will probably get hired.

[aughie]

That's very true. The the first thing that the school director did was to look at me from head to toe.

Not a bad effort dragging a thread up that was 2 years old.is that you harry?

Harry? Nah, it would be more sensible to ask if it's the Captain.