Choose the Right Colors for Your Next Interview

As the time for your big interview approaches, you’re staring intently into your closet hoping that something will eventually call out: ”Hey! Wear ME! I’d be perfect for your interview!” And you’re in luck! You’re red jacket is the one that jumped out to you.

But, then you remember some advice that you had read in an article: Wear a dark, plain and professional suit to your job interview. You need to stick with the solid grays and blacks, and maybe a fitting pinstripe.

So the question now is: How much color are you allowed to put on when you are about to leave for an interview, while at the same time, your are trying to come across as powerful and professional?

”You can wear a red jacket to a job interview. But it is helpful to know something about the organization’s culture,” says Stephanie Legatos, who is a career coach, colors counselor and owner of the Be Well Partners.

In the fall and the winter, Legatos likes a splash of red or purple when she meet with her clients or potential clients, and she considers meeting a new client like having a job interview. Sometimes, she will wear a black-and-white zebra pattered jacket. ”I feel fabulous in that jacket,” says Legatos, but she knows that is can be a little ”out there” so she balances it out with a conservative pair of shoes and a handbag, and she doesn’t want to wear it to every new client meeting.

When you are choosing your colors and your attire, be very mindful on what you are doing-and who you’re going to be meeting and what message you would like to convey to that person. Legatos suggests that you ask yourself: ”What do I really want to project?…This is a person who is promotable. This is a person who knows just how to establish a presence.”

Ellen Schulman, who is a career counsel with Career Generations added: Do you really want to be perceived as the orange, turquoise or chartreuse lady interviewer? You want to standout, not the color of your jacket.”

Consider the Color:
Colors convey meaning and even emotion. Red means luck in Chinese, and red and black are the colors that convey power, says Legatos. They may work for an executive or contract negations’ job. But, if you were to be interviewing for an administrative position, you may want to try as less bold color–like blue or even brown. White-like a white shirt or a white blouse-conveys clean, purity and honesty.

Consider the Mix:
If you are trying to convey professional with a little bit of flair thrown in, try pairing a dark suit with a bright colored blouse or shirt. Or try the red jacket, but make sure that the rest of your outfit is a muted color. Wear a tie with a little bit of zest to bring in a bit of color. If you love the color purple, then add some of that bold color with a small handbag.