Dressing For Success:
One Woman's Tips on the Right Clothes for an Interview

Aired August 4, 1999

This is INFOhio After Nine, I am David C. Barnett, on the 4th day of August, 1999. For many of us, the idea of looking your best for a job interview is just second nature, putting your best foot forward and all that. But what if you've never done that? What if you've never taken that step into the world of work? As a part of our year-long series on "The Changing Face of Welfare," 90.3 correspondent Harry Boomer spoke with a mother of three about what she's learned about dressing for success.

Bonnie Newell–You just can't go job seeking in summertime in a winter suit, because now they're looking at you on a different level, she's not sure of her seasons, she might not be sure about this job.

Harry Boomer–For many women on welfare, like Bonnie Newell, getting a job is their job. For many on welfare, knowing what clothes to put on seems a more daunting task than the job interview. They know how to dress to impress, but they don't necessarily know how to dress for success. There is a difference. Newell, a mother of three young girls, knows that. She learned in classes designed to help her get off welfare the do's and don'ts of proper attire.

BN–My wardrobe is like church style, so I didn't need the Dress for Success because I go to church. Then my mom passed away a couple years ago, so I have a lot of elegant things and nice things in my closet that you just keep up.

HB–Newell, who has been on welfare for seven years, is getting close to Ohio's relatively new, three-year, lifetime limit. She's had a couple of jobs as she struggles to work her way off welfare. She has learned that what you put on affects the way you feel, and that the way you feel affects the way you carry yourself, and how you carry yourself is crucial if you want to be successful in landing that all-important J-O-B.

BN–You don't go jobs with bright colors, you know, it's nice to be a little mild, but not bright. When they can see you when the lights are all off, they don't want that. Always be neat, nice pantyhose, clean shoes, toes in, never go on an interview with your toes out, never. Your hair done, your nails done, no dangly earrings, professional style. No jewelry, don't be flamboyant with your jewelry. That tends to take away from your interview because the people are more or less looking at what you have on, instead of what you have to offer. Spandex, the spandex dresses and things like that, that's not appropriate for job seeking. Wear something lose, something not hanging off you, but something comfortable, you know, real loose. I would say something like an after-five, two-piece skirt suit would be nice, not an after-nine miniskirt set. Just sell yourself. If you feel good and you look good, then you're going to come off good. Your presentation to that company, that business, will be good, it'll be professional, and that's what you need. You need something professional.

HB–All common sense things if you're used to thinking about getting up, getting dressed, and going to work on a daily basis. But if that process is foreign to you, you have to learn the language of job seeking. Newell has another common sense suggestion.

BN–If you know you're going to Winkleman's tomorrow for a job interview, then slide by Winkleman's today, and see how the crew, or I should say, the management dress.

HB–She says that way, you'll have a much better feel for what's right for that particular work environment. While she learned a lot of things in class about dressing for success, life has taught her a few things as well.

BN–You cannot go out on a job or anybody's interview taking your kids. You can't do it. That's going to be a negative, I mean, the most major negative point towards your interview, because, number one, they're looking at you, you might be dressed for the success, you might have everything it takes to sell yourself right, make a good presentation, but now, what's in that consumer's mind is, well, if I give you a job, are you sure you have someone to watch your kids? You might not make it to work every day, so that's a negative. I've been on about three interviews, and I had to take my kids, because of the day care situation, but I also explained a few things to the people during the interview, nevertheless, I don't have the job.

HB–And getting that all-important job is key to her future and to the quality of life her three daughters, Briana, Tiana, and Kiana, will have.

BN–They know, you know, don't think the kids are not aware of moms and dads. When you have a bad situation, or everything starts out looking pretty as roses, don't think that the kids don't know, that now there's a blemish on that rose or something because they know.

HB–Part of her challenge is to consistently use the lessons learned to stay on the road to self-sufficiency. All is not well. In my next report, I'll have an update on Bonnie Newell's roller-coaster ride as she struggles to get off public assistance. For INFOhio, I'm Harry Boomer in Cleveland.