Blog by Sumana Harihareswara, Changeset founder
Color Me Employed
Hi, reader. I wrote this in 2003 and it's now more than five years old. So it may be very out of date; the world, and I, have changed a lot since I wrote it! I'm keeping this up for historical archive purposes, but the me of today may 100% disagree with what I said then. I rarely edit posts after publishing them, but if I do, I usually leave a note in italics to mark the edit and the reason. If this post is particularly offensive or breaches someone's privacy, please contact me.
I'm embarrassed to say that I've never worn my orangeish brown interview suit; it was too formal for the two jobs I've had since I've bought it. But should I have bought it at all?
Do wear pleasant colors – women have a wide choice in beautiful colors. Most are acceptable on interviews.
The best color choices for an interview outfit:
Grey or navy – An excellent color especially for conservative organizations.
Blue – A favored color especially if being interviewed by a male.
Black – Can be perceived as being "too strong" for an interview. If black is worn, soften the color by using white or pastel accents.
Accent colors:
White, cream, light grey or blue – Good neutral colors for blouse or shirt.
Yellow – Gives impression of a productive and creative person.
Red – A powerful color for small accents such as a scarf.
Orange – A good accent color encourages conversation.
