​How to dress for the job title you want

​How to dress for the job title you want


As a marketing director I have seen a lot of interview wardrobe mistakes. Over the years, I have had to hire for various positions, including marketing assistants, web developers and graphic designers. The most common mistake the candidates made was not properly dressing for the position for which they were interviewing. This may sound like common sense, but for many it isn’t.

You should dress within the appropriate parameters of the title you are interviewing for, with a touch of personal style.

For example, I was hiring a marketing assistant at a marine engineering company, and she wore a dark, two-piece skirt suit with a blouse decorated in small red anchors and dainty, matching accessories.

This was perfect for the interview for two reasons. One, it was a conversation starter — she explained that her family had owned a boat for years and that she thoroughly enjoyed boating, which gave me an opportunity to get to know her personally. Second, it tied into the company. Since it was an interview at a sterndrive manufacturing company, the anchors were a perfect accent.

I hired her because she had the right professional and educational credentials for the job, but her interview attire really set her apart from the others.

When in doubt, before your interview, ask human resource contacts at the company what they would recommend. They want you to impress the hiring manager — that’s their job. Don’t hesitate to ask for style suggestions or even the hiring manager’s hobbies or favorite colors. Show them you put a lot of time into specifically dressing for that interview. The more information you have about the company beforehand and the more applicable personal information you share with them, the more likely you’ll get hired. That’s the real definition of “dress for the job you want”.

Rachel Tuhro is an e-commerce, retail and technical B2B marketer. She has experience in developing and managing new marketing programs for small to mid-sized retail and high-tech companies that enhance branding, build community, and drive revenue. Tuhro internally manages the marketing department for four conglomerate sister companies within the marine manufacturing and retail industry. Outside of work, she expresses her passion for fashion philanthropy and supports the local art scene.