WASHINGTON — Good interview skills and a powerful resume can help you land a job — but a study shows the color you wear to a job interview can have a huge impact, too.
A CareerBuilder survey of hiring managers and human resource professionals showed that some colors can help candidates stand out in a job interview.
“In terms of projection, your appearance tells more about you than what you say or how you say it,” New York image and style expert Carol Davidson told Fast Company .
“And out of all of the elements of your wardrobe, color speaks first.”
Twenty-three percent of employers surveyed said they recommend job seekers wear blue. Black ranked No. 2 at 15 percent.
The color to avoid? Twenty-five percent of employers said orange was the worst color to wear as it is associated with someone who is unprofessional, according to the survey.
Below is the breakdown of attributes conveyed through colors, according to the survey:
- Black – leadership
- Blue – team player
- Gray – logical/analytical
- White – organized
- Brown – dependable
- Red – power
- Green, yellow, orange or purple – all four colors were associated with creative
Davidson says you should consider the industry when picking a job interview outfit.
Also, no matter which color you choose, Davidson says you should also consider the tone.
“All colors can be scaled from authoritative to approachable.”
CareerBuilder interviewed a representative sample of 2,099 hiring managers and human resource professionals across industries and company sizes.
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