Before I entered business school, I had never put much thought into the interview process—what it’s like to become an interviewee and the steps I would need to take towards winning over a business’ HR department. I don’t know what made me think that the interviewing process would be easy, simple and completely stress-free, but clearly I was very and I mean very, VERY wrong. Not only do you need to learn about the company and all that wonderfully fascinating baggage that goes along with it, but you also have to become a shape shifter and form into the ideal candidate the company is looking to hire. However, while they preach that juicy tidbit in business school, I genuinely disagree that you need to become someone you are not just to fit a position. Yes, yes I know you need to tweak certain aspects to fit a job description, but I don’t like the idea of becoming someone you are not just to impress others. Personally, I have always relied on my closet to help me stay true to who I am in situations where I know I am being judged. Obviously, be mindful of what you are wearing, but from my past experiences it has always been a heck of a lot easier for me to show someone who I am by the way I dress than it is for people to try and understand me based off of a paper description. After all, humans aren’t two-dimensional beings.
While it can be hard to dress specifically for a job description, it is more difficult to wear something you don’t like and to ooze confidence. This Fashionista knows exactly what I’m talking about when it comes to her own interviewing process and the steps she has taken to becoming a student teacher. Although teachers are presented with a long day of instructing ahead of them and seem to sometimes prefer comfort to style, and while my memory of classroom fashion is blessed with themed seasonal turtleneck, brown slacks and rubber-like clog wearing teachers, this Fashionista blows my previous dim misconception of classroom dress far out of the water. Dressed in a navy blue A-line dress, this Fashionista is ready to conquer a class of third graders easily! Her oversized bag works perfectly for staying organized and looking chic. Not only do her Ralph Lauren shoes give her a little height, but they also warrant comfortable line leading skills too! Her look is simple, yet extremely appropriate for the job.
One Simple Change: Just finished a long day of being grilled with ‘what-if’ scenario questions and interviewer glares? Whether it is out for a quick cocktail with some friends or even out on a date, try swapping wedges for something a little bit taller, like nude pumps, for a more sophisticated and mature look.
