If you have been invited to an interview in MENA, what you wear matters. Of course, your personality, skills, and experience are what counts the most, but first impressions matter, and what you wear lets people know that you are professional and pay attention to detail. Certain industries and professional fields also require specific consideration when it comes to picking out your interview outfit.
In this guide we want to give you all the tips and information you need to give your employers a fantastic first impression of you, giving you the best possible chance of that all-important callback.
Primarily, wearing the right clothes for an interview gives you power. The same as a man going for an interview, if you make a great impression with your clothes and grooming that is a great starting point to then display your skills and personality well. It can also boost your confidence when you go in, helping you excel in representing yourself and everything you can bring to the position.
In addition, you may well find that as a woman looking for work in MENA you probably have some challenges and hurdles to overcome. There can be a lack of variety in what is appropriate, a struggle to express yourself in what you wear, and comfort may be an issue too.
By understanding both the challenges and benefits of dressing well for an interview as a woman in the MENA you can set yourself up for success. Here’s an overview of the different categories you should consider for different job types:
In all instances, you should avoid wearing:
Interview Dress Code for Different Industries in The MENA
Creative Industries
Creative industries require that you wear business casual outfits, with room for a little expression. You should look fashionable in what you wear, adding smart accessories like belts and great jewelry, all whilst keeping things modest.
Technology Industries
Technology industries require that you wear business casual clothes but in neutral and toned-down colors. Think comfortable, timeless, and modest but veer away from looking dowdy by ensuring what you do wear is modern.
Financial Industries
Financial industries require that you wear business professional or business formal in simple and classic tones. It should be modest and very crisp, with a nice white blouse, fitted suit, tights, and heels that match. Anything too flamboyant or statement in nature will not lend itself to this interview outfit well.
Law Industries
Law and similarly official industries require business professionals leaning towards formal. As well as your smart outfit you should be also making a real effort with your hair, keeping it up, sharp, and groomed. The overall look should be very well put together and thought out.
Academic Industries
Business casual is the right category for any educational job interview. However, it has to be really modest because you’re interviewing for a position of power. Any dresses or skirts should be below the knee and should not be too fitted. No hip accentuation or revealing shirts. You should also have your hair tied neatly and away from the face. The emphasis is on looking smart, comfortable, and modest.
The Lowdown on Interview Makeup
As a general rule, you should keep your makeup simple and modest. Well-groomed eyebrows, some lip balm, good skin with a really good foundation base, and some neutral eyeshadow with your favorite mascara is perfect. It is very natural but still shows you have groomed and taken care of how you look.
Don’t forget to trim and file your nails as part of this makeup process. Your nails should look well-groomed with a neutral or clear varnish to emphasize your self-care regime is tip-top.
The tips above are a great start to your interview preparation. Choosing the right outfit for this process will help you walk proud, giving a great first impression that hopefully leads to a fantastic interview and maybe even a job offer too.
