Interview Series - Part 1

So let's start this bluntly. Interviewing always makes me nervous because I worry that the first thing people will see when they meet me is my size. I won't belabor that, though. If you want to see what feeds that nervousness and why I respond through fashion, read this older post. My point is, when I'm meeting people for the first - or very important - time, I want them to notice not my size, but my presence.

Most of the time, folks will pick a standard "uniform" for an interview - dark colored suit, neutral top, small earrings, small pendant. And there is nothing in the world wrong with that. It's just not what I personally am every day (Neutral? Me? Hahahahaha!); I feel dishonest being that low-key.

So when I interview, I do my best to play to the tenor of the potential employer, but still put my own spin on it. Last week's interview was with a wonderful, established law firm with a solid reputation. Now was not the time for "funky" or "quirky." Now was the time for upstanding and traditional. Still, I wanted my spin on it.

Now, please forgive the photography. I was out of town and taking this picture in the hotel mirror. I did not have access to my normal photographer (a/k/a my teenaged daughter).




I think it hit the blend pretty well on the head here.

What's solid and traditional? It's a black 3-button black suit (my lovely Tahari brand again!), neutral nails, and low-heeled, un-fussy Aerosoles.

What's my spin on it? First, it's 3/4 sleeves with shiny gold buttons (I think I'm part magpie). And hopefully you can see this, the very end of the pencil skirt is lined with about 4-inches of pleating. It's subtle but distinctive. I also didn't do a white or cream top. Instead, I went with something that, in person, is actually more the color tone of the necklace I'm wearing. As for that statement necklace, I obviously chose not to do a simple, quiet pendant. But so it wouldn't be overwhelming, I wore one that wouldn't be thicker than a double-strand of pearls, and I matched it to the top (I swear, the photo is skewing the color).

I think it was an overall nice balance of playing to the audience but letting my personality out. I'm happy with the effect.

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