“Colours, like features, follow the changes of the emotions,” these are the words of the famous artist Pablo Picasso.
You may wonder, what exactly is Colour Psychology?. It is the study of how hues can influence human behaviour and perception. This concept suggests that various shades can have a wide variety of effects, from boosting our moods to causing anxiety. Colours can also have different meanings in different cultures, and perceptions of colour are definitely subjective. Harvest tones make us hungry, earth tones make us reflective, and bright colours make us feel confident.
This is why it’s so important to consider the colours you are wearing: choosing the right hue can positively affect your interview. Many people underestimate the power of colours they choose to wear for an interview, but colour sends a significant amount subconscious message to the interviewer about:
- your character
- your attitude
- your personality
Something like a job interview is really important – there is only one chance to impress so you need to make it count. You want to appear credible, reliable, professional, capable, forward-thinking, approachable and able to do the job better than any other candidate.
So the next time you’re prepping for an interview, take some time to think about what you want your clothes to say about you. While we are often told “don’t judge a book by its cover”, our brains can’t help but subconsciously make assumptions. Use this to your advantage.
So how do you create the perfect image?
Before we worry about what colours to wear, the first hurdle is what to wear. A basic distinction between strictly business formals and business casuals needs to be ascertained. Different industries call for different looks. Finding out if you are required to wear a suit & tie, skirt dresses, or maybe dress down a little; requires you to do research well before the interview actually happens. You want to wear colours that show you will fit in with the company’s culture. If you are in any doubt about the company’s culture, it is best to dress conservatively, with neutral, solid colours.
A handy tip is looking on the company’s website for images of their workforce and asking people who you know work there about the company’s culture, workspace and dress code. If you find that everyone is wearing a suit, you definitely should too. If everyone is wearing jeans and flip-flops, dress one notch about that. If you are a little bold, you can even call the HR department at that particular company and ask what they would recommend you to wear.
You should also consider your grooming. You want to look together, not messy or lazy. You want to look like you have attention to detail, so all the finishing touches count. Your clothes need to be clean and ironed, shoes polished, not scuffed, not worn down.
One important, and often overlooked, aspect of an interviewee’s first impression is colour. What you choose to wear communicates a lot about who you are and how you see yourself and sends a subconscious message to the interviewers about your personality. Write down a list of words that truly reflect your personality and the image you want your interviewer to pick up. Run your interview outfit past them – does it reflect what you want it to say?
According to some studies, it seems that employers appreciate more sober and cold colours, like black and blue, or greys. The worst colours you can pick are the brightest ones, like orange or yellow. They are considered to be too loud for an interview.
Choose solids over patterns:
An important rule of thumb is to try not to be remembered for what you wore, i.e. your attire. You want to wear something that lets your interviewer focus on your skills and qualifications rather than your wacky style and attire. Wearing solid colours helps ensure that your clothes will not distract. Solid navy, dark grey, and black suits and dresses, in particular, look professional without being distracting. Small patterns, like thin pinstripes, are okay as well. The rule of thumb is to select a pattern that is small enough that it looks like a solid from across a room.
Choose neutrals over brights:
Again, you do not want to be remembered for your attire; if you wear a very brightly coloured suit or dress, you will almost certainly be remembered for your outfit (rather than your job qualifications). Neutral colours—navy, grey, black, and brown—are the best colours for a job interview. White is also an excellent, neutral colour for a blouse or button-down shirt.
You can certainly add a pop of colour to a neutral interview outfit. Limit the number of brightly coloured items to one, and make sure it is not the dominant colour of your outfit.
Here’s a quick colour guide for common colours you might consider for your interview outfit.
- Black:
According to colour psychology, black reflects authority and power but if could also represent an evil notion for some people. Black is the colours of leaders, and if it is used correctly, it can become a very elegant and sophisticated colour. If you abuse it, you make seem unreachable. Using black as an accent colour (for example, in a scarf or tie) can give you a sense of authority without being overwhelming.
Remember, black could also potentially make you look thinner.
- Red:
Red is a captivating colour that reflects energy, power, strength, and passion. It is useful in cases where you want to draw attention to yourself. A pop of red can convey just the right amount of passion without making you appear too emotional.
- Blue:
Blue, particularly navy, is a great neutral colour for interview outfits. Blues convey feelings of calm, trust, and confidence – great qualities for an interviewer to sense in you. Blue is also many people’s favorite colour, and wearing an interviewer’s favorite colour will always make a great first impression. Specialists say that navy blue is the best colour to pick for a job interview.
- White:
White primarily reflects innocence and purity. The colour conveys values of truth and simplicity, and adds a bit of brightness without being too overwhelming. White means you’re an organised person. It is the opposite of chaos since it can stain the purity of the white colour you are wearing. Although there is the chance, for some employers to consider this colour as being dull or to inspire the lack of confidence.
- Green:
Green is known as a relaxing colour. Green is also a colour connected to nature. This is why seeing the green colour makes people feel better as they feel more connected to nature.
- Grey:
Grey is another great neutral colour for interview outfits. It evokes sophistication and neutrality. Grey is a great colour to wear as a suit or dress; it allows you to look powerful but is not quite as domineering as a black suit or dress.
- Brown:
Brown is also a colour that can work for a job interview. It is a warm neutral colour, showing the reliability and safety brought by a person. Go for the browns that have a more earthy shade. It evokes feelings of calm. It is a great solid, neutral colour for an interview.
Remember:
It’s not just about what you wear. After all, it’s a job interview, not a fashion show. While a spiffy appearance will certainly help you make a great first impression, the key to nailing a job interview lies mainly in your answers to a hiring manager’s questions. You want to make sure you’re buttoned up in that area.
