A job interview you are sure to get

If you're an upperclassmen like me, you've probably begun the daunting task of attending career fairs and job interviews. As if this new and unfamiliar stage in your life isn't intimidating enough, you also have to deal with the burden of picking out the perfect outfit.

An outfit for a job interview is arguably one of the most stressful because you want to make a great first impression for your possible future employer. (what? are we really that old?) Presentation is everything when it comes to a good job interview, and what's the first thing your interviewer will see when they lay eyes on you? Sorry ladies, the answer is not your 4.0 GPA, it's your outfit.

What you're wearing is crucial in this type of encounter because it can play a big role in your interviewer's first impression of you. If you're reading this and think I'm shallow or simply don't believe me, think about this: companies interview a countless number of college students each year, with only a short amount of time to get to know each one and decide whether or not they are what the company is looking for. So, anything you can do to boost your image and make yourself stand out will only work to your advantage.

For example, if you show up to a job interview in jeans and a t-shirt, you probably won't be taken seriously. On the other hand, if you show up in a fancy business suit, you could be viewed as trying to hard. So what is the answer? Let me tell you what I think.

College can be a strange limbo because you're on the verge of adulthood, but not quite there yet. Let that show in your outfit choice! You're still in college and your interviewer knows that. So don't try to blow them away with some fancy pantsuit that makes you look like you're 20 years older than you actually are. (Trust me, you will have the rest of your life to wear those things once you actually get the job.) Instead, try to incorporate business-like clothing into an outfit that you would enjoy wearing as a college student.

For example, try a pair of high wasted dress pants that you can tuck a nice button-down blouse into. The pant-blouse combo is business appropriate yet still emits a young flare. If you want, you can even wear a pair of pants that have a fun but subtle print on them. Next, choose a sleek and flattering blazer to go over your blouse to add the professional look. Lastly, a good pair of heels and a nice bag will polish off the outfit and complete the package.

"I love this outfit," said Julia Duke, junior communications major at the University of Texas at Austin, "It makes me feel confident and professional but I also still feel like a 20-year-old girl."

And there you have it! Chose an outfit like this one and your interviewer will take immediate notice of your sophisticated, put together look. Then all you'll have to do is show off that 4.0 GPA and the job is yours!

Photos:
top left: photo of Julia Duke dressed for a job interview by Kimberly Sebastian
top center:  photo of Julia Duke dressed for a job interview by Kimberly Sebastian
top right:  photo of Julia Duke dressed for a job interview by Kimberly Sebastian