Dress for interview success
By Sherri Eng
July 1996

Career counselors, corporate hiring managers and fashion consultants agree that determining what to wear to a job interview is no easy task. You must take into consideration such variables as the position you're applying for, the culture of the company, even your own physical appearance and personality. Many career advisers here say that in order to dress for interview success, you must wear the appropriate job uniform. A good rule of thumb is: The more supervisory the position you're applying for, the more dressed up you should be for the interview.

Male engineering job applicants can get away with wearing beige slacks or khakis, textured shirts and creative ties, said Valerie Frederickson, a career counselor in Menlo Park. For female engineering applicants, she suggests the ''Annie Hall'' look of pleated slacks and button-down shirts. If you are interviewing for a job as a machinist, you probably needn't wear a three-piece suit. Slacks and a sports jacket for men and slacks and a simple blouse for women may be acceptable.