By This Mommy Saves Money

Starting a new job is a process that requires not only patience but many skills that fall beyond your degrees. Besides a well-designed resume, a degree, and communication skills, one needs to know how to dress for an interview. The phrase, ‘first impressions are lasting impressions’, is quite applicable in this situation. One of the first things employers notice about you is the way you dress. The best advice is to keep your clothing choices simple and professional. Not everyone is able to buy an expensive pantsuit or dress. This is even more common for people who are just starting out and have a smaller budget. There is a great and affordable solution for this: shopping at your your local Goodwill store; and some knowledge of how to choose the perfect outfit.

Finding the Right Interview Outfit

It is easy to find what you need when you have a significant amount of resources to suit your needs, however if you are on a tighter budget or consider yourself to be a savvy shopper, consider the following tips for buying the perfect interview outfit at Goodwill!

Take Your Time

Buying second-hand doesn’t have to be completely boring. Make a hunt out of finding the perfect outfit! We are very fortunate to have several Goodwill locations in our area. Don’t choose the night before the interview to shop. Start your search a few weeks before your interview. I even suggest to people to start looking for an outfit when they start their job search. This way if they get a call for an interview, they are not scrambling to find an outfit. By shopping at Goodwill you will find that it is quite easy to find a suit for less than $15!

Pick Solid Colors

Solid colors always look professional! Moreover, solid colors can often easily match with clothes you already have in your closet. The addition of a few professional outfits you find at Goodwill to your wardrobe, can add a variety of ways to mix and match with clothing you already have in your closet, to create an array of professional looking outfits!

Choosing the Right Time

Keep up to date with your local Goodwill stores, and check what promotions they are currently running. My favorite Goodwill promotion, is their “color of the week” sale (50% off items with that color tag!). I always check as I walk into a Goodwill location to see what the color of the week is on sale, and then make it a point to find items with that color tag.

Brands

Goodwill shopping doesn’t mean that you have to compromise on brands. If you browse carefully, you will be able to find clothes that have sustained their original brand tags. You will be surprised to know that brands like Nine West and Ann Taylor can be found at Goodwill stores, and at a fraction of the cost of what you would pay if you bought it at a large department store.

Matching

It can difficult to complement colors if you are buying second hand. However, an interview suit should not be mismatched. For men, it is advised to match a pair of black dress trousers with a dark jacket. You can a buy a shirt in muted colour or pattern. Pick a tie to match but it should not be in a striking or outward color. Women have more options, but an interview is not the time for a style expression. Choose a professional looking dress or skirt plus blouse to pair with a jacket.

A few other general tips include not wearing ill-fitting clothes, ripped clothes (just thoroughly check the piece you select), and revealing or low cut clothes. Lastly, good luck with that interview!