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What to Wear to a Paralegal Job Interview

By Lynne DeVenny

Alison Doyle, a job search expert, book author and prolific career columnist at About.com Careers, recently blogged about ?What Not to Wear on an Interview?. She is a great job search follow on Twitter (@alisondoyle), and in addition to regularly blogging with excellent career advice, offers a free weekly email job searching newsletter.

My favorite part of ?What Not to Wear on an Interview? is the list of attire to avoid:

• Flip-flops or sneakers.


• Underwear (bras, bra straps, briefs, boxers, etc.) that is visible. Don't wear any underwear that shows - even if your bra straps match your top.


• Shorts.


• Jeans.


• Skirts that are too short.


• Pants that are too low-rise or too tight.


• Blouses that are too low-cut or too short - don't show your cleavage or your belly.


• More on underwear and low-rise pants - make sure the top of your thong, if you wear one, doesn't show above your pants.
  

In summary, avoid looking like Jessica Simpson in The Dukes of Hazzard movie. (Not that she's not lovely, but would you trust "Daisy" to draft a legal document for you?) When in doubt about whether your thong might show, go for uncomplicated cotton briefs. With the stress of an interview itself, who needs to worry about whether his or her thong has somehow escaped the confines of the recommended classic business suit?

And that?s the basic tried and true recommendation by me, Ms. Doyle and anyone else giving career advice who?s worth his or her salt: wear a classic business suit to any professional job interview. In particular, most legal environments are conservative, traditional settings. Even if you?re lucky enough to land at the one law firm in your area where the employees are allowed to bring their dogs to work and wear yoga pants when they don?t have court ? you won?t know that as a newbie interviewee.

Own at least one flattering and well-fitting, but classic suit in a neutral color, like black, gray, navy blue, or caramel. For women, buying a three-piece suit (jacket, skirt and slacks) is a great way to expand wardrobe options, and buying two mix-and-match suits is an even better way to build a limited wardrobe. Adding a simple, well-tailored sleeveless dress in a neutral color to wear with the suit jacket is another great way to expand the suit?s flexibility. (A suit to interview at a conservative private law firm or corporation is a costly but necessary investment. If you?re a student and your money will be tight for the foreseeable future, start haunting better consignment stores and clearance racks regularly to acquire at least one well-made suit.)

Mixing and matching conservative blouses in bright, flattering colors can give an otherwise traditional suit a bit of individual flair. (Men can incorporate this advice by buying attractive and flattering ties.) Ms. Doyle is right about pantyhose. When in doubt, wear them (you can always take them off as soon as you get back to your car).

Own at least one pair of good shoes with great arch support and a moderate heel. You?ll love them when you?re following that HR recruiter around a large corporate office, grateful that your feet aren?t killing you, and that you?re not in danger of falling off those sexy stiletto heels that you really wanted to wear to liven up that ?boring? suit.

As far as interview jewelry, it?s hard to go wrong with a pair of simple, classic (faux or real) diamond studs, but they have to be worn in your ears and not in your nose. A small, classic purse and a leather (faux or real) portfolio for your resume and references will make you look organized and pulled together.

Hair and make-up? Think Michelle Obama and not Jessica Simpson. Less is more when interviewing for legal professional jobs ? unless we?re talking about flip-flops, Daisy Duke shorts, or thong underwear.

Full post as published by Practical Paralegalism on May 20, 2009 (boomark / email).