Haley Townsend – Editor in Chief
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Photo by Sarah Adkins
Spring is nearly here and with spring comes endless applications and interviews for summer internships and post-grad jobs for those of us luck (or unlucky) enough to be graduating. Image is not everything, but professional attire is a must at an interview. However, it can be hard to afford a full suit on a student budget.
Some positions require suit attire for an interview, especially if the corporate culture is suit and tie every day. Other industries, like creative companies or tech-startups are much more laid back. Get a taste of the culture by viewing current employee’s LinkedIn profiles or attending a networking event.
CEO Michael Karp, of Manhattan-based recruiting company Options Group, told the “New York Post” in an interview that “it’s important to understand the culture of the industry you hope to work for. If you are interviewing for a job in a more creative field, or at a tech startup, for example, there is more latitude on what’s deemed appropriate than at, say, a bank.”
Kscope has come up with a host of helpful ideas for shopping for the perfect interview or professional outfit without breaking the bank from our own experience and through research.
The best option for a tight budget is shopping second-hand. There are a ton of consignment and thrift shops around the Birmingham metropolitan area.
Kscope was luck enough to check out d’Trespa, a consignment boutique that features everything from “Gap to Gucci” including an impressive collection of vintage, gently used and new items. Our creative team took to d’Trespa’s racks and created several budget friendly looks for masculine or feminine presentation for a company that is moderately formal.
For GirlsFor Feminine Presentation
Option One: If the interview is for a less formal position (think creative positions or for a company well-known for laid-back corporate culture) consider pairing a white button-up 
dress shirt with a cardigan and knee length black shirt. Professional attire is best kept simple, so we accessorized with a $32 shiny black patent leather pair of Ivanka Trump flat .
Option Two:
Swap the cardigan for a blazer. There are plenty of options second-hand and if it does not fit perfectly consider investing in alterations, but be aware that they can be costly depending on the extent of the alteration. In a pinch, borrow one from a friend that has a similar build. Blazers are an article of professional clothing that transcend gender, though the fit will be different depending on the department it is from.
Option Three: A full suit is considered the height of business formal attire and you can find these at consignment shops. Our photographer tried on a $120 Banana Republic two-piece suit and paired it with a $10 button-up dress shirt (pictured bottom left).
Option Four: We chose a grey pinstripe for this look, but any neutral like black, grey brown or navy will look polished and professional with a bright white button up. For this look, we opted for a vest over the button up instead of the blazer, as it can be hard to find a well-fitting blazer right off the rack. We picked a traditional leather t-strap Maryjane heel. UAB Career Services recommends wearing simple closed toe shoes with heels no higher than two inches.
General Guidelines
Makeup: Keep it natural. You do not want to look overdone or like an Oompa Loompa with caked on, orange bronzer. Stick with a light to medium coverage foundation, natural blush and contouring if that is part of your routine. Keep the eyeliner to a minimum to accent your eyeleashes but not overpower your look. You want to look polished and flawless, not like you are about to sing a solo on Broadway.
Hair: Style your hair in a way that makes you feel professional and comfortable. Long hair can get unruly, especially if you end up windswept by a strong breeze heading in to the interview. The number one rule to remember: keep it off your face so that you do not have to worry about your hair covering your eyes or getting caught in your mouth while talking. You want to focus on the person interviewing you, not on what your hair is doing.
For Masculine Presentation
The epitome of the business professional look is of course the three piece suit, but that can run way over $200 or more. While it is advisable to own at least one suit for interview, there are other options that still come off as professional without such a high price tag.
Option One: Dress pants and a dress shirt. It is simple and affordable, but still looks sharp. Look for pants that are a dark neutral and match it with a pair of leather oxfords. Make sure to wear dress socks the color of your pants and shoes. Do not make the mistake of wearing white socks with black shoes and pants (or worse, no socks at all). We promise, your ankles will show when you sit down!
Option Two: Take it up a notch with a vest and tie. Vests can either contrast or match the pants. Stick with solid color for dress shirts – patterns are distracting and you run the risk that the interviewer could absolutely despise paisley. If you want to branch out into patterns, opt for a conservative stripe or something similar.
General Guidelines
Acessories: Wear a belt, socks that match your shoes and a watch if you have one.
Facial hair: A clean-shaven face is recommended to make a highly professional impression. However, if you are a fan of beards or facial hair, there may be some leeway depending on the industry to which you are applying.
Check out the UAB Career Services website for more information and guidelines on how to look your professional best.
