Elizabeth Pulanco/ Winonan
First impressions are important to make when it comes to job interviews. To achieve a professional first impression, it can come together through a better appearance.
As a way to benefit the Winona State University students going out into the business world, a fashion show with the best styles for job interviews and interviewing tips was coordinated by Pi Sigma Epsilon and the Public Relations Student Society of America.
Shelly Cronk, a former manager of Herberger’s, gave out several “do’s and don’ts” of job interview attire.
The outfits showcased in the fashion show were broken into three categories. The first category was business casual, where men could wear a nice shirt and khakis while women wore a business skirt and a sweater.
The next category was slightly less casual: instead of khakis, the men wore nicer dress pants and the women wore a nice blouse.
The final category was comprised of outfits that should be worn to an important business meeting. The men wore a suit and tie, while the ladies wore a nice blouse beneath a blazer with a nice skirt.
Cronk’s advice for those about to enter the employment sphere of the real world dealt with proper composure and attire, emphasizing if one is able to conduct themselves properly and dress appropriately during a job interview, it will not only help the chances of employment, but it can also help boost confidence.
Cronk advised women to avoid wearing noisy bracelets or fancy earrings. This could be seen as distracting and they should wear conservative colors such as grays, blacks and tans to keep the attention on the interviewee, not the outfit.
Although these colors should be a part of the overall color scheme, it is still acceptable to add a little extra color, Cronk said.
Another important tip for women was the necessity of wearing panty hose while wearing a skirt as an alternative to socks.
A must-have for both genders was closed-toed shoes, or if ladies choose to wear heels, ones that are appropriate for the office setting and comfortable to walk in.
For the men, it was recommended to wear a tie along with socks.
Sophomore Nola Johnson attended the fashion show to get an idea of what would be acceptable during a job interview.
“Dressing well shows that we view ourselves as deserving of this position,” Johnson said.
Sophomore Hanna Leadstrom also attended the fashion show to gain tips on what to wear while she applies for internships.
“A good appearance is important, because an employer is a representation of the company,” Leadstrom said.
Along with the advice about fashion, Cronk gave hints on how to behave in a job interview.
As well as bringing in a resume, Cronk suggested bringing in a pen and paper to take notes during an interview. This would keep the interviewee occupied and give off the impression of being interested in what the potential employer has to say.
Cronk suggested someone should never show up to an interview more than 15 minutes early, and to always send a thank-you letter or email to the interviewer afterwards.
To lighten up the presentation, Cronk described some unfortunate job interviews, such as an individual who brought their own mother to the interview or a person who continued to cry during the interview and even cried when they were brought back for a second interview.
