Bar Interview Attire - What Clothes To Wear To A Bar Interview
Picking out the right bar interview clothes is not always an easy task. The bar interview attire you choose can't be overly formal nor can it be too casual for the establishment where you'll be interviewing.
The bar interview clothes you choose should be a reflection of you and your abilities. What does that mean exactly? Well, if you wear a pair of jeans and a dirty T-shirt to your bar interview, it tells a little something about you. If you can't even take the time to clean your own shirt for an interview, how can the owner / manager expect that you'll be able to keep their bar clean?
A tip to figuring out what to wear to a bar interview is to go to the bar where you'll be interviewing and take notes on what the current staff are wearing. Pay attention to the pants they are wearing - jeans vs khakis vs dress pants, as well as their choice of tops - T-shirts vs golf shirts vs dress shirts, and whether they are wearing regular ties or bow ties. Make notes about the kind of shoes the staff are wearing - do they have running shoes, deck shoes or formal dress shoes?
Once you've determined the current staffs' level of dress, you'll want to one-up that. Generally speaking, for most bar interviews, you'll want to dress smart casual. If you're looking to get hired in a 5-star resort, then you'll likely have to go the extra mile and wear black dress pants with a white tuxedo shirt and a bow tie (for the men) and a blouse (for the ladies).
No matter what type of bar you're interviewing at, you can't go wrong with black dress pants - for men as well as ladies. Make sure your pants look good. That they fit well, aren't bunching up around your ankles or aren't so short that the interviewer wonders where you parked your canoe.
Bar Interview Attire for the Ladies
So we've determined that black dress pants are the way to go - make sure they don't hang too low on your hips. Now for your top. Wear something that fits to your form - something subtly sexy but not overboard. Think about what you'd be able to wear to school and don't show anymore skin than that. Anything white or off-white always pairs well with black pants. Otherwise choose a color that stands out a bit but compliments the rest of your outfit. Don't go crazy with jewellery - it's just an accident waiting to happen in a busy bar. And the same goes for perfume - you can use a very small amount but be very careful that it's not overbearing.
Choose flat shoes - bartenders don't wear high heels behind the bar and you shouldn't to a bar interview either. You're trying to look like you'd be all set if the interviewer wanted you to start on the spot.
Bar Interview Attire for the Men
Again, we've mentioned black dress pants as the ideal option. For your top, try to pick something with a collar - a nice dress shirt like the type you'd wear if you were going out clubbing. Make sure the shirt fits well and doesn't look like a hand-me-down you got from your older brother or father. If you have to, go buy a shirt - you'll need it when you start working anyway. You can wear a tie if you think the place is upscale enough but it's usually not needed. Pick a nice color collared shirt that looks good on you. Your shoes should be dressy and preferably have rubber soles - although for the interview, it won't matter but behind the bar it will.
Bar Interview Attire Tips
Tattoos should be covered where possible Men should take out all piercings Women should take out any visible piercings expect for one pair of earrings (wait till you get the job to see if your nose ring is okay). You don't have to tuck in your shirt or blouse if it looks good hanging out. Men and Women - easy or no perfume or cologne
Now that you know the proper bar interview clothes to wear, just make sure you show up at least 10 minutes early for your interview and you're ready to shine.
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