| In the current economic climate it's no longer just a | | | | or charcoal contrasting with white and touch of bright |
| case of the right experience and qualifications. In | | | | red. There are also 'Kind and caring' colours such as |
| today's tough job market you will be up against | | | | browns and cream or pastel blues and soft pinks. |
| numerous applicants with the right qualifications and | | | | Sharp contrasts are more powerful and 'salesy' than |
| experience so employers can afford to be ultra picky | | | | blends. Blocks of self-colour are more assertive than |
| and use all sorts of criteria to weed applicants out | | | | florals. Stripes or geometric patterns can look quirky |
| when making a decision. | | | | and creative. |
| Job Interview Skills Click here | | | | For men at interviews, jewellery (apart from a good |
| Your personality and how you market yourself are | | | | watch and maybe some non-jokey cufflinks) is |
| extremely important. So too is your appearance and | | | | probably best avoided altogether! However, for |
| the golden rule is to look the part for the particular job | | | | women, there are some simple rules for choosing |
| you are going for. To give an over simplistic example: if | | | | interview jewellery and these finishing touches can |
| you are applying for a job as a social worker, it would | | | | make or break your carefully structured image. |
| not be appropriate to go for 'power dressing' in a high | | | | Jewellery for a woman does much the same job as a |
| fashion, sharp tailored suit, lots of make-up and | | | | tie does for a man in that the designs and colours are |
| expensive, top-end accessories. You just wouldn't look | | | | together hugely important in what they say about you |
| the part and the interviewer would have difficulty | | | | and can be quite revealing about your character and |
| envisaging you in the role. You could be the best | | | | personality. Jewellery, by it's very nature is symbolic |
| qualified, most committed social worker ever but your | | | | and your own jewellery needs to do the job of |
| appearance would be contradicting that, giving a | | | | enhancing your image. If you get it right, your chosen |
| confusing message to the interviewer. So, in simple | | | | pieces will tell your interviewer quite a lot about you. |
| terms, the sentiment is 'look the part - get the part! | | | | What you don't want however, is the sort of scenario |
| Job Interview Skills Click here | | | | where your necklace or earrings are so eye catching |
| Partly, it's a case of common sense and using some | | | | that they become a distraction. Your jewellery and |
| forethought but there are also some guidelines to help | | | | accessories will help you if they exude taste, |
| you. Colours are important. There are 'trustworthy | | | | confidence, individuality and intelligence or, if appropriate, |
| 'colours such as blue, green and some reds of the | | | | choose pieces that are a bit quirky or unusual to get |
| darker, burgundy types. There are 'powerful leadership' | | | | across your creative and artistic side. |
| colours such as dark navy contrasting with pale blue | | | | |