When it comes time for your first marketing or advertising internship interview there are a lot of factors that go into your preparation; researching the company, learning about the industry, having your elevator pitch (cliché term alert) about yourself ready, driving to their building the night before so you can show up on time the night before; those are all important things to do, but nothing may be more important than how you dress.
First impressions count
The impression that your potential intern employer gets of you and what kind of employee (it is important to think of yourself that way, paid or unpaid) you will be happens literally in the first seven seconds. Think about what happens in seven seconds. Not much, they see you, they say hello and shake your hand. Here is the breakdown of how an impression is made: 38% of their impression is based on the way you talk, 7% is based on what you actually say and 55% comes from your nonverbal cues, and in seven seconds there are not many other visual cues you can provide other than what you look like. It may not be fair, but it is reality according to a study from former UCLA professor Albert Mehrabian.
I have interviewed several interns during my career and I would say only one really dressed appropriately for a job interview. That is not to say the others were not presentable, but they did not approach the interview like a job interview. This is exactly what you need to do to stand out in a competitive marketplace.
Playing it safe
Now before I get too far into the actual advice of this article, I want to add a quick disclaimer. Most of what you are going to read online on the topic of dressing for an internship interview is going to play it safe and recommend a basic two-button suit for guys that is black, gray, or brown and a basic pant suit or skirt suit again in dark colors with colors like white or ecru for your shirts. This will always be the safe thing to do. I agree with this advice for the most part and if you are unsure about the advice that is about to follow then stick with these timeless classics and you will be fine.
This article is actually just going to help you approach the safe way to dress, but adding some appropriateness for the more creative industries you are entering.
The No-No’s
But first what not to wear. No matter how talented you think you are you should avoid these basic no-no’s:
Jeans (especially with holes)
Unstyled Messy Hair
Ungroomed Facial Hair (guys)
T-Shirts
Hats
Sandals
One exception to the no-no’s is if you are talking to the interviewer before and they specifically mention that the company is very casual or it is Friday so you don’t need to dress up, otherwise you want to show that you take this opportunity seriously. Break the no-no’s at your own risk.
Now that the no-no’s are way out of the way, how do you go about dressing for an internship interview at an advertising agency or marketing department of a fortune 500 company or wherever your marketing or advertising career search takes you?
The industry sets the tone
Part of how you dress for your interview depends on the industry you are going into. For example, if you are interviewing at a PR agency that works mostly with law firms then how you dress should dictate that and dress more conservatively, just like if you are interviewing at the most talked about new Web 2.0 start up you should dress nerd chic.
If you are going to a larger corporation again use your head, some simple common sense and research to see what is going to be appropriate at the company you are interviewing. For example the way you would dress for an internship interview at a company like Zappos or Apple would be different than Microsoft or GE. A great way to see what you should do is to visit their websites and get a feel for their brand.
Advertising agencies want to see that you are interesting, current and will be able to relate to their clients, while corporate settings also need to make sure you will fill in with their corporate culture. In addition, corporate settings are more likely to have a set dress code as well so, see check and see if they list it on their website for an indicator of how to dress.
Your personal style
Number one, do some simple research and use discretion. Again begin with the basic suit option as your starting point, but you still want to be you. Landing in a yearlong marketing, advertising or design internship where you sold yourself as something you are not is only going to make things miserable for you and your employer. You want to make sure it is a good fit for you and the employer and showing some of your personality is a good way to do that.
An interview is your one chance to stand out and looking like everyone else is going to make that more difficult. Obviously you need to use your head, but a little color and personal style should be acceptable in a creative atmosphere like an advertising agency or design boutique. Things like a slightly more bold colored dress shirt, or handbag for women or monk shoes instead of lace-ups for guys or maybe no tie may not seem like much but can set you apart just enough. Even your piercings or tattoos may be OK in a lot of creative settings as long as you are following the other basic rules.
Conclusion
With some simple research, careful selection of attire and a bit of your own personality, you can maintain your own style, stand out from the crowd and still look professional at an advertising, design, marketing and public relation internship interview. And if in doubt play it safe, remember that it is a job interview, wear a suit and avoid the no-no’s.
