12 Nov What to Wear to a Job Fair

Am I the only one who finds searching for a job hard?

From writing a killer resume, crafting a compelling cover letter for every position I apply, and researching companies, to networking, attending job fairs, submitting applications and following them up, (whew!) there is a lot that goes into job hunting. And it’s hard.

There used to at least be one aspect of a job search that wasn’t hard…what to wear.

What to wear to a job fair or interview used to be so easy! Men would wear a suit. Women would wear a suit. Decision made. Done. Easy peasy.

These days, there simply is no easy answer to the question, “What should I wear?”

You can find employees wearing suits and ties or shorts and hoodies and everything in between. What’s a job seeker to do?! What should I wear?! 

The question of what to wear to a job fair is addressed in a recent UpJourney article. I’m happy to be one of the career experts sharing an opinion.

Here’s what I think you should wear to a job fair:

For women, I recommend slacks and a crisp blouse; a dress; or a skirt and blouse. For a job fair, a blazer is not required, but if you want to wear one, there is no downside.

For men, I recommend a sport coat with pressed shirt and slacks. A suit or coat and tie will add a nice touch but are not required at a job fair.

For everyone, be sure to smile when you talk to people. Your smile will show you are self-assured and capable.

There are, however, some exceptions to my advice, what you wear to a job fair can be dependent upon the type of work you are seeking. If you are attending a job fair to land a job at a large accounting or legal firm, you will want to dress more conservatively. A suit, for both men and women, would be the appropriate attire. If you are looking for a job within the fashion or retail industry, you may want to dress more fashion forward. 

It’s a good rule of thumb to understand the typical dress code for the industry or company you are pursuing and then wear clothes at least one step more dressy than that. 

Whatever you wear, wear it with confidence

Go into the job fair, networking event or informational interview knowing you can deliver results and help a company achieve its goals.

It’s how you conduct yourself and what you say that matters most to get you the interview and job.

Want more advice on what to wear to a job fair? Check out the complete article with thoughts from 17 other career experts.

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