You may have heard that in an interview process, the hiring decision is made within the first 30 seconds of the interview. That may be a terrifying simplification of what happens, but at core, your first impression matters. Clothes make up a huge part of this impression, and should be taken seriously. Here are some things to avoid when choosing your presentation ensemble:
Uncomfortable Clothes
For your own focus (and sanity), you shouldn’t wear anything that is going to make you uncomfortable. In a choice between elegant heels and reasonable flats, go with the reasonable flats every time. Don’t wear anything that itches, pinches, tugs, squishes, or hurts.
Mr. T Jewelry
Don’t give your audience a reason to focus on anything but your message. Humans are built to be distracted by “shiny things.” Mr. T built a trademark look on necklaces alone, for instance. Keep jewelry minimal, or even better, don’t wear any.
Pastels, Orange, Mustard Yellow, and Some Greens
Studies have shown that these are “no no” colors for presenters. The psychology behind it is probably more complex; just trust the study. So what colors tested best for presenters? Medium range blue, gray, navy, camel, black, dark brown, beige, burgundy, rust, and white. There are plenty of alternatives to the mustard yellow jumpsuit you’ve been dying to wear.
What You Wore Traveling
It’s going to be wrinkled, it probably smells like your car/an airplane, and it might not be “business casual” enough for your presentation. Ditch the travel attire and iron something better.
Noisy/Stinky Clothes
Distraction should be avoided at all costs. Don’t wear anything that swishes, has a strong scent, jingles, or squeaks. Your audience will notice it, then they will dwell on it, and then they won’t pay attention to what you say.
Shoes That Show Where You’ve Been
Many people overlook their shoes when presenting, which is a huge no-no. Make sure your attire is consistent with your footwear; don’t be business up top and have a soccer game on your shoes.
Wrinkle Makers
The dreaded wrinkle. It’s not going to kill your presentation to have a few, but it indicates a lack of preparedness. Your audience will be looking for visual clues to get to know you. Don’t imply that you have been living in a trash can with a gang of cats with your wrinkled shirt.
Wise clothes decisions are easy to make with minimal effort. The important thing is that you are making conscious choices about them.
Question: Have you looked critically at your presentation wardrobe?
