What to Wear to Summer Job Interviews

What to Wear to Summer Job InterviewsWhat to Wear to Summer Job InterviewsKeeping cool on the job huntYoure on your way to a job interview. Youre running late youre stuck in traffic and when you finally step out of the car, its so hot you can feel the heat radiating off the pavement. You arrive feeling sweaty and unpolished, and you wind up looking sweaty and unpolished.But it doesnt have to be this way, even on the hottest summer day. You probably already own everything you need its just a matter of equipping yourself with the right tools and walking into your interview with confidence.In transitTake off one article of clothing in transit. It will keep perspiration to a minimum and prevent you from appearing overheated. Youll also feel more comfortable and confident when you walk into the interview.For menRemove your jacket, but make aya you put it back on when you enter the building where youre interviewing. You dont want to risk running into a potential employer nearby looking any thing but completely pulled together.For womenIf youre wearing heels, replace them with a pair of comfortable flats. Tired feet can lead to poor posture. Find a coffee shop or a park nearby where you can sit down and put on your heels before entering the building.Take a breather, cool offWhen the temperatures are high, allow yourself at least 15 minutes cool-down time before every important event. Take a few moments to gather yourself in the lobby bathroom or at a restaurant across the street. Youve already thought about what youre going to say, so devote this time to think about how youre going to look.For menSplash your face with cold water fix your hair check your fingernails for dirt and make sure theres nothing caught in your teeth (smile).Always keep a handkerchief in your back pocket so you can wipe your face if it begins to sweat on the elevator ride up to the interview.For womenIf your hair is pulled back, check for stray pieces if its down, comb it and, if necessary, apply a frizz-control product. Check to make sure your makeup is still intact.Streamline your undergarmentsChoose undergarments that will help you keep cool and not add to the heat.For menDont wear an undershirt. Its an unnecessary layer that will turn up the heat when you need to stay cool. Your jacket will hide sweat stains anyway.For womenLook for breathable underwear with a nylon/spandex blend which helps wick away moisture. This isnt sexy underwear. Its practical underwear.Wear lightweight, unlined fabrics.Choose fabrics that not only keep you cool but keep their shapes and appearances under the heat.For menYou should invest in an unlined wool suit for days when you have to dress up. It makes a jacket feel as light as wearing a second dress shirt.For womenMoisture and heat are the perfect storm for fabrics like cotton, linen and silk. Look for separates with a touch of Lycra. Even if its only 3 percent Lycra, it should keep the wrinkles at bay.Be careful with scentsYou must be conse rvative with perfume and cologne Too much and you risk turning off your interviewer or, worse, offending his allergies. Allergic reactions to certain perfumes and colognes are more common than youd think.For menReplace cologne with after-shave, which has a much milder scent that disappears quickly. Before any big interview, enlist a significant other or friend to do a scent test You shouldnt be able to smell product of any kind - from hair gel to after-shave - from more than an arms length away. If you can, its too strong.For womenIts OK to dab a small amount of perfume on your wrists or neck, but only if its hours earlier. A refresher right before you walk in the door may overpower your interviewers olfactory senses.Tame the maneIn the summer, its not enough to make sure your hair is neat, clean and professional make sure your hair isnt making you melt or highlighting your fevered appearance.For menShave. And get your hair cut several days before an interview. Any less and you ri sk looking boyish and unserious.Unless you work in a laid-back, creative field where personal style is applauded, dont grow out your hair. To your counterparts and superiors, you risk looking disrespectful and rebellious. At the very least, wait until you land the job before you begin growing it out again.For womenKeep your hair off your face, if its long. Keep your hair off your face, if its short. Generally, keep your hair off your face. A low chignon looks smart and sophisticated.Brush up and avoid chewing gumMake sure your breath is fresh.For men and womenBrush your teeth. If you dont have a toothbrush handy, buy a pack of breath strips, which are perfect because they dissolve immediately.Never chew gum you risk forgetting to take it out before the interview.Nina Myers is a New York-based fashion writer. She has worked at Esquire Magazine, where she was a mens fashion market editor, and at Niche Media, where she was fashion editor for nine regional luxury magazines, including Bo ston Commons, Gotham, Hamptons and LA Confidential.